• First production line for anti-reflective glass goes into operation in China
• Access gained to world’s biggest sales market for solar glass

Munich / Huzhou, May 3, 2011 - CENTROSOLAR Group AG, one of the leading suppliers of photovoltaic roof systems and solar glass, continues its drive to expand internationally. For example the company has now commissioned a first anti-reflective (AR) coating line in Huzhou, China, at a partner company that has been operating a glass melting furnace there on behalf of Centrosolar Glas GmbH & Co. KG since 2009. Some of the world’s biggest PV module manufacturers are based in Asia. The Far East market, which has the highest potential in the world for solar glass, will then be served with material produced locally. 

Solar glass is used to cover crystalline photovoltaic modules. An anti-reflective layer supplied by Centrosolar Glas increases the power yield of PV modules by up to 6 %. This CENTROSOLAR subsidiary is among the world market leaders for solar glass with such anti-reflective properties. Particularly solar module manufacturers with premium standards rely on this AR glass. Centrosolar Glas currently exports AR glass grades from its production plant in Fürth, Germany, to destinations ranging from the USA to the Far East. However, in view of the high shipping costs it has not yet been possible to tap market potential in Asia adequately. 

The new production line has an annual capacity of 1.8 million m2 and will enable CENTROSOLAR to supply this product to customers in the Far East with immediate effect. There are no plans for imports into Europe, which will continue to be supplied by the Fürth plant. CENTROSOLAR Management Board Chairman Dr Alexander Kirsch commented: “The Asian market has become a very interesting prospect for our solar glass business. But in the long run it simply doesn’t make sense to ship coated panes of glass across the oceans. We are now much closer to our Asian customers. The partnership with a well-known, reliable partner for raw-glass production offers further advantages in terms of quality and costs.” 

About CENTROSOLAR Group AG: 

The listed company CENTROSOLAR Group AG, Munich, (stock exchange code WKN 514850) is one of the leading suppliers of photovoltaic (PV) systems for roofs and key components, with over 1,000 employees in Europe and North America and annual revenue in excess of EUR 400 million (2010). Its product range comprises solar integrated systems, modules, inverters, mounting systems and solar glass. It generates around half its revenue internationally. There are CENTROSOLAR branches in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada and the USA.

CENTROSOLAR has a solar glass manufacturing plant in Fürth and a module production plant in Wismar (Germany). Over the past two years, the production lines for the finishing of glass have been substantially extended in response to rising demand and now have an annual production capacity of up to six million square metres. Module manufacturing was also stepped up quite substantially in response to soaring demand. The module plant certified to DIN ISO 9001:2008 in Wismar is one of the largest and most efficient such plants in Europe, with an annual capacity currently of 200 MWp. For further information, visit: www.centrosolar-group.com.

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