Germany’s remaining module makers have had a hard few years, squeezed by imports that sell for far less than local production costs. Soluxtec gave the sector a rare piece of good news on 5 November, announcing that its factory is producing again. The existing line has been through a comprehensive technical upgrade and now runs on a larger wafer format and TOPCon cell technology.
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The line has moved from M10 wafers to the larger G12 format and now builds modules with TOPCon cells. Soluxtec will sell the new generation as the GT series, while the established product name stays in the range. Production will be increased gradually over the coming weeks. The company says the priority for now is stable processes and consistent quality. “Restarting production in Germany is an important milestone for Soluxtec and the foundation for our next phase of development,” said Matthias Altieri, SVP Sales at Soluxtec. “Our focus is on quality, reliable production and sustainable development.”
182 mm to 210 mm
M10 and G12 are two of the industry’s standard wafer formats, measuring 182 mm and 210 mm along each edge. The step up increases wafer area by about a third, which raises module power and lowers balance-of-system costs per watt, since a plant needs fewer modules, strings and mounting structures per megawatt. The trade-offs are larger, heavier modules and higher string currents, and higher string currents, which call for suitably rated inverters and other components. TOPCon is now the mainstream cell technology, having displaced PERC with mass-production efficiencies more than one percentage point higher.
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Soluxtec is also working with technology and industrial partner RONMA, who is contributing expertise in research and development, solar cell technology, procurement and production optimisation, and its specialists are working with the German team on manufacturing processes. Soluxtec says the cooperation gives the company a broader and more stable base. The announcement does not say how the arrangement is structured.
Proximity as selling point
Sales are to grow step by step in the priority markets, for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The company says the next phase is about developing production further, product availability, customer deliveries and commercial partnerships. It has not disclosed the capacity of the upgraded line. (TF)
