Monday, July 27, 2009

Q-Cells International to construct 50 MWp solar park in Bavaria

- Largest solar park in Germany with polycrystalline solar cells
- Generates as much electricity as is used by around 15,000 households
- Reduction of 35,000 tons of CO2 per year
- Until it is sold to an external investor, the project will be run as a joint venture between Q-Cells and MEMC


Q-Cells SE, the solar cell manufacturer based in Saxony-Anhalt, and MEMC Electronic Materials Inc., the US manufacturer of silicon wafers, today revealed the formation
of a joint venture to construct large solar parks, in which each partner will have a 50% share. The first shared project will be a facility in Strasskirchen, Bavaria. With a total capacity of around 50 MWp, this will be the largest ground mounted PV system in Germany to be operated using crystalline solar cell technology. Q-Cells International, a 100%-owned subsidiary of Q-Cells SE, has been commissioned to
construct the facility.

“Strasskirchen represents a new dimension for us and we are proving that we are able to achieve very high quality in a record-short time“, says Dr. Marko Schulz, Member of the Executive Board of Q-Cells and the person in charge of Q-Cells International’s project business. We expect to complete the facility and connect it to the public electricity network at the end of the current year.

The amount of electricity generated by the solar park in Strasskirchen each year corresponds to the power consumption of around 15,000 households. With the energy of around 225,000 modules, installed on a surface equivalent in size to around 270 football fields (around 135 hectares), around 35,000 tons of CO2 will be eliminated each year.

Q-Cells SE and MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. have agreed to each invest up to around 70 EURm in the joint venture so that the two partners can cover the bridging finance during the construction phase.

MEMC will supply the silicon wafers for the joint venture, and Q-Cells will turn them into solar cells. Following completion, it is planned to sell the project to an external investor.

No comments: