Conergy SolarModule GmbH & Co. KG, based in Frankfurt (Oder), is celebrating its third anniversary. Back in 2007 and 2008 the start-up of the factory was significantly hampered by the reorganization of the company. In the meantime, provision of the raw material silicon has been secured and the ramp-up almost completed.
At the end of November 2006, the building work began for one of the most advanced solar factories in the world, in a factory hall originally planned for the chip industry. In December 2008 Conergy erected on its own factory roof a rooftop system with 1,800 modules and a total output of 378 kWp. In the presence of the then Brandenburg Minister for Economic Affairs, Ulrich Junghanns, Conergy started up the production on three lines in cell and module manufacturing.
A Total Of Over 600,000 Modules Produced
At the moment, the Frankfurt factory is operating at full capacity. Currently, the fourth of four cell lines is being commissioned, while in the module production all five production lines are in operation. Conergy has already delivered a total of over 600,000 modules to customers worldwide. At the moment, the Conergy solar factory employs 700 people, of whom 350 are temporary workers. In addition, 15 apprentices are being trained at Conergy in Frankfurt (Oder).
Michael Erler, commercial director of the factory, is delighted about the most recent developments: "For the factory, the first three years was a hard time, but also one full of lessons. In the meantime, we have overcome a number of obstacles. For instance, the silicon bottleneck, and the ramp-up is virtually complete. We have established efficient processes and reduced our costs significantly and sustainably. This ideally equips to enter the competitive arena."
Mathias Kamolz, technical director of the factory, adds: "Our efforts in aid of efficiency and quality in our Conergy PowerPlus premium modules have also paid off – and are being rewarded in the market. Thanks to the strong demand, our factory is currently working at almost full capacity."
The mayor of Frankfurt an der Oder, Martin Patzelt, has supported and followed the development of the solar module factory closely from the outset: "For the city of Frankfurt, and also for me personally, Conergy’s success is a great delight. It ranks among the most important employers in the region and uses state-of-the-art facilities to manufacture quality products that leave Frankfurt for every corner of the globe. That is a success which we can all be proud of in Frankfurt."
Conergy Power Plus: Quality "Made in Germany"
Conergy PowerPlus modules are developed and produced entirely in Germany at one location, from the wafer and cell to the finished module. Development and production staff work hand-in-hand and manufacture a product which sets new standards in terms of quality. Thanks to the positive performance tolerance of the ConergyPowerPlus modules guaranteed at Conergy, the customer receives the return they expected at the very least - or even more. Further proof of the high quality standards of the modules among other things is the minimal complaint ratio: So far complaints have been lodged for fewer than five of 100,000 modules by customers – a figure which puts Conergy at the very forefront of the industry. Quality which Conergy fully passes on its customers with product guarantees of up to ten years. These include homeowners, energy producers as well as major investors. They have used Conergy PowerPlus in the megawatt parks "Almudema", "Los Pilones" and "El Calaveron", among other projects. Additional PowerPlus solar parks are in planning. |