Development
Present
Currently, SolarWorld Innovations GmbH is focussing on integrating into the new company structure and on distinguishing itself as the “think tank” of the group.
The scientific area of the daily business is presently concentrating on improving the standard products as its key concern. Thus, for example, with close cooperation between Research and Production, we were successful in raising the average degree of efficiency of monocells to over 17%.
In the year 2008, the infrastructure of SolarWorld Innovations has been expanded to include more testing laboratories for the support of quality assurance, new development laboratories, two technical centres for the development and evaluation of processes and facilities, a central patent and literature administration and a central project management department for the coordination of publicly funded development projects.
A five-storey building on the main SolarWorld site in Freiberg was erected specially for researchers and developers and will provide them with the most modern working conditions. The work force will be increased to 70 employees and will include
top-class minds from science and industry.
Future
In the year 2009, the new research centre will be finished. It will be equipped with its own pilot lines for the development of prototypes and experimental ranges and a clean room which is 2,300 square metres in area. Practice tests, optimisation and troubleshooting of standard products are possible on a small scale at this phase of production. New technologies can be put through their paces before being integrated into the general production process.
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„In Research and development, we constantly work to ensure that solar power technology
is becoming ever more efficient and competitive. And this at all levels of the value-added chain.” Nicole Schmidt, a scientific employee |
