Solibro Handed Over to New Owner Hanergy

Henning Schorisch, Q-Cells SE’s insolvency administrator, transferred the photovoltaics company Solibro GmbH to its new owner, Hanergy Holding Group. All of the just under 400 jobs are to be maintained.

Solibro was bought by Hanergy Holding Group, the largest private energy corporation in China. The purchase agreement had already been signed June 25, 2012.

Therefore, in the form of Solibro, a second major business was successfully maintained at the solar center of Bitterfeld-Wolfen. Just over four weeks ago, Schorisch sold the Q-Cells business to the South Korean Hanwha Group.

“The takeover of Solibro by Hanergy is an important step towards maintaining the ‘Solar Valley Thalheim,’” Schorisch said. “The fact that the buyer wants to maintain all of the local jobs shows that foreign investors consider attractive not only the technological expertise of local companies but also their production resources and innovative prowess.”

Hanergy acquires the two European Solibro locations in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (approximately 370 employees) and Uppsala, Sweden (approximately 30 employees). Through the takeover of Solibro, Hanergy makes an investment into CIGS technology (copper, indium, gallium, diselinide), which is the leading thin-film technology Solibro developed over the course of the last 25 years. Hanergy plans to increase Solibro’s production to 100 megawatts per year to serve the group’s European customers.

CIGS thin-film technology is regarded highly promising. However, volumes were not high enough in the past to allow for profitable production. Through Hanergy’s involvement, the CIGS technology can now reach a production volume generating competitive product prices. As Hanergy plans to become a globally leading producer of thin-film solar modules, Solibro also complements their own portfolio in an ideal way.