05-13-2008

SCHOTT Solar establishes independent limited liability company for thin film technology

• Bundling of activities and expertise
• Planned expansion of annual production capacity to 100 Megawatts

Alzenau/Jena, 13 May 2008 – SCHOTT Solar, the manufacturer of solar components, has founded an independent company for its thin film module business sector. The corporation now bundles its sector activities and expertise in the new SCHOTT Solar Thin Film GmbH, setting the tracks for further growth. At its two locations in Jena and Putzbrunn near Munich, the new company will produce framed premium and standard modules, as well as OEM raw modules. Within the next few years, the annual production capacity is planned to expand from currently 36 to 100 Megawatts.

“The market for thin film modules is experiencing above-average growth. Bundling our activities in this sector into a separate company is a reaction to this development that prepares us for further growth, while allowing us to operate more flexibly. This step strongly emphasizes the importance of thin film technology in our photovoltaic product portfolio,” explained Dr. Martin Heming, Managing Director of SCHOTT Solar and member of the SCHOTT Corporate Management Committee. Dr. Robert Kuba, Managing Director of the new SCHOTT Solar Thin Film GmbH, added: “We are among the pioneers of thin film technology, and this expertise will now be consolidated in SCHOTT Solar Thin Film GmbH. I am looking forward to my new responsibilities as we have now created the prerequisites for further expanding our thin film production.”

Roughly 250 employees are currently employed in research and production for the new company in Jena and Putzbrunn. SCHOTT Solar has been active on the market for thin film modules from its early days. Starting as early as 1986, the company has been developing and producing thin film modules and OEM raw modules at its Putzbrunn location. The first façade modules produced by SCHOTT Solar have been in use since 1993. They consist of ASI glass with a photovoltaic output of 8 Kilowatts that were integrated into the southern façade of the Münchener Umweltamt (Munich Environmental Agency). Covering an area of approx. 5,500 square meters and producing a power output in excess of 200 Kilowatts, one of the world’s largest integrated thin film systems was installed in 2003 on the Stillwell Station in New York City, equipped with thin film modules by SCHOTT Solar.

At the Jena location, SCHOTT Solar has invested EUR 75 million in thin film technology and recently inaugurated the new production facilities with 180 new workplaces. Delivery of the first modules has already begun in January.

A short while ago, SCHOTT Solar GmbH, Alzenau, and ersol Thin Film GmbH, a subsidy of ersol Solar Energy AG (ersol), have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop the micromorph technology for thin film solar cells. Both companies will combine their research and technology resources to achieve shorter time to market and thus gain a leading market position in micromorph photovoltaic technology.

Number of characters: 3.081 incl. spaces

Press pictures can be downloaded at www.schott-pictures.net

SCHOTT Solar high quality products utilize the potential of the sun as an inexhaustible source of energy. And it’s for exactly that reason that SCHOTT Solar produces important components for photovoltaic applications and solar energy plants. In the photovoltaic industry, the company is one of the few fully integrated manufacturers of crystalline silicon wafers, cells and modules. The production of the wafers is ensured by the WACKER SCHOTT Solar joint venture, which secures the supply of silicon for the growing demand in the long term. In thin-film technology, SCHOTT Solar is also a leading supplier. And in the production of receivers for solar power plants, SCHOTT Solar sees itself as a market and technology leader. The receivers are key components in large-scale power plants that generate electricity from solar energy centrally on the basis of parabolic trough technology and are able to supply entire cities with power. SCHOTT Solar has production facilities in Germany, the Czech Republic, the USA and Spain. The innovative power and technological competence of the company date back to the late 1950s. SCHOTT Solar GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the international SCHOTT technology group. SCHOTT AG develops special materials, components and systems for the household appliance, pharmaceutical, solar energy, electronics, optical and automotive industries. With a total of 16,700 employees, the SCHOTT Group generated a worldwide turnover of 2.1 billion euros in fiscal year 2006/2007.

SCHOTT Solar GmbH
Lars Waldmann
Press and Public Relations
tel. +49 (0)6023 - 91 1811
fax +49 (0)6023 - 91 1700
lars.waldmann@schott.com
www.schottsolar.de