Solon SE
Encyclopedia
Solon SE is a German
solar energy company. It is headquartered in Berlin
. Solon SE produces photovoltaic modules at its production sites in Greifswald (Germany, SOLON Nord GmbH), Steinach in Tirol (Austria, SOLON Hilber Technologie GmbH), Carmignano di Brenta (Italy, SOLON S.p.A., formerly known as S.E. Project s.r.l.), Tucson (USA, SOLON Corporation) and Berlin (Germany, SOLON Photovoltaik GmbH). Solon also offers turn-key solar power plants, projected by SOLON Inverstments (Freiburg, Germany) and Inverters, developed and produced by SOLON Inverters AG (Uznach, Switzerland, formerly known as asp AG).
In 2008 Solon had a production capacity for photovoltaic modules of 450 MWp (2007: 210 MWp; 2006: 130 MWp) and with a production of 176 MWp (2007: 118 MWp; 2006: 84 MWp) Solon maintained to be one of the biggest module producer in Germany and Europe. Solon employed around 943 employees at the end of 2008 and achieved a turn over of 815,1 million € and a net profit of 30,9 million € (2007: 503,1 million € und 22,2 million €; 2006: 346,4 million € und 14,4 million €).
, Alexander Voigt, Wuseltronik GbR (Reiner Lemoine
, Stefan Fütterer, Peter Fischer, Martin Sauter, Jürgen Hiller). It went public in 1998 as the first solar energy company in Germany. It was listed in the TecDAX
ISIN
: DE0007471195 between 20 March 2006 and 21 September 2009 and since 2007 it is an ÖkoDAX
constituent. On 2 December 2008, the Solon Aktiengesellschaft
(AG) became a European Company
(SE).
On 1 September 2006, the Erlasee Solar Park
was dedicated, with 12 MW the currently largest tracking
photovoltaic solar park. It was constructed by Solon.
since October 2007. Initially the panels were for its own project to supply electricity to Pima County
and for export back to Europe.
In December 2008, the world's largest CIGS
thin-film solar array
went live in Tucson. SOLON Corporation produced and installed the photovoltaic modules and designed the array.
Since an agreement with American Solar Electric, in January 2009 the company started to expand to the residential market in Arizona.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
solar energy company. It is headquartered in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Solon SE produces photovoltaic modules at its production sites in Greifswald (Germany, SOLON Nord GmbH), Steinach in Tirol (Austria, SOLON Hilber Technologie GmbH), Carmignano di Brenta (Italy, SOLON S.p.A., formerly known as S.E. Project s.r.l.), Tucson (USA, SOLON Corporation) and Berlin (Germany, SOLON Photovoltaik GmbH). Solon also offers turn-key solar power plants, projected by SOLON Inverstments (Freiburg, Germany) and Inverters, developed and produced by SOLON Inverters AG (Uznach, Switzerland, formerly known as asp AG).
In 2008 Solon had a production capacity for photovoltaic modules of 450 MWp (2007: 210 MWp; 2006: 130 MWp) and with a production of 176 MWp (2007: 118 MWp; 2006: 84 MWp) Solon maintained to be one of the biggest module producer in Germany and Europe. Solon employed around 943 employees at the end of 2008 and achieved a turn over of 815,1 million € and a net profit of 30,9 million € (2007: 503,1 million € und 22,2 million €; 2006: 346,4 million € und 14,4 million €).
Company history
Solon was founded on the 27th of November 1996 by Saleh El-Khatib, Birgit Flore, Johannes Grosse Boymann, Paul Grunow, Stefan KrauterStefan Krauter
Stefan Krauter is Professor and Entrepreneur in the area of Renewable Energies. His activities in research, teaching and business are directed to establish a global sustainable energy supply...
, Alexander Voigt, Wuseltronik GbR (Reiner Lemoine
Reiner Lemoine
Reiner Lemoine was a German entrepreneur in the area of Renewable Energy.During his studies of aerospace engineering he co-founded Wuseltronik, a socialistic collective for engineering based in Berlin-Kreuzberg. In 1996 he co-founded Solon AG, followed in 1999 by the solar cell manufacturer Q-Cells...
, Stefan Fütterer, Peter Fischer, Martin Sauter, Jürgen Hiller). It went public in 1998 as the first solar energy company in Germany. It was listed in the TecDAX
TecDAX
The TecDAX stock index tracks the performance of the 30 largest German companies from the technology sector. In terms of order book turnover and market capitalization the companies rank below those included in the DAX.The TecDax was introduced on 24 March 2003...
ISIN
ISIN
An International Securities Identification Number uniquely identifies a security. Its structure is defined in ISO 6166. Securities for which ISINs are issued include bonds, commercial paper, equities and warrants...
: DE0007471195 between 20 March 2006 and 21 September 2009 and since 2007 it is an ÖkoDAX
ÖkoDAX
ÖkoDAX is a German stock market index which includes ten companies in the renewable energy sector. It was introduced on 5 June 2007. The constituting companies and their weightings are reviewed quarterly.-Development:...
constituent. On 2 December 2008, the Solon Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e. owned by shareholders, and may be traded on a stock market. The term is used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...
(AG) became a European Company
European Company Statute
The Council Regulation on the Statute for a European Company is an EU Regulation containing the rules for a public EU company, called a Societas Europaea, or "SE". An SE can register in any member state of the European Union, and transfer to other member states. , at least 702 registrations have...
(SE).
On 1 September 2006, the Erlasee Solar Park
Erlasee Solar Park
The Erlasee Solar Park, also sometimes called the Gut Erlasee Solar Park, is a photovoltaic power station located in one of the sunniest regions of Germany. On the former wine-producing Erlasee estate near Arnstein in Bavaria, in southern Germany, Solon SE has constructed what is currently the...
was dedicated, with 12 MW the currently largest tracking
Solar tracker
A solar tracker is a generic term used to describe devices that orient various payloads toward the sun. Payloads can be photovoltaic panels, reflectors, lenses or other optical devices....
photovoltaic solar park. It was constructed by Solon.
SOLON in the United States
SOLON Corporation, a fully owned subsidiary of Solon SE for the North American market, has been producing solar panels at its plant in Tucson, ArizonaTucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
since October 2007. Initially the panels were for its own project to supply electricity to Pima County
Pima County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.3% White*3.5% Black*3.3% Native American*2.6% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.7% Two or more races*12.4% Other races*34.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and for export back to Europe.
In December 2008, the world's largest CIGS
Copper indium gallium selenide
Copper indium gallium selenide is a I-III-VI2 semiconductor material composed of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium. The material is a solid solution of copper indium selenide and copper gallium selenide...
thin-film solar array
Thin film solar cell
A thin-film solar cell , also called a thin-film photovoltaic cell , is a solar cell that is made by depositing one or more thin layers of photovoltaic material on a substrate...
went live in Tucson. SOLON Corporation produced and installed the photovoltaic modules and designed the array.
Since an agreement with American Solar Electric, in January 2009 the company started to expand to the residential market in Arizona.