According to foreign media reports, German photovoltaic module manufacturer Solarwatt recently announced that it will cease its battery production in Germany by the end of this year and shift all battery and solar module production to Asia. The company's CEO, Detlef Neuhaus, stated, "For economic reasons, it will not be feasible for the German factory to continue operations beyond 2024."
Previously, on May 2, Solarwatt had announced the closure of its Dresden manufacturing facility, which has an annual production capacity of 300 MW, in August. About 170 of the company’s 750 employees will be affected by the cessation of module and battery production.
Founded in 1993, Solarwatt specializes in photovoltaic systems and basic components for private residences and small businesses. The company currently has branches in Dresden (headquarters), France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Solarwatt is the second photovoltaic manufacturer to withdraw from the German market this year. In March, Swiss solar module manufacturer Meyer Burger announced the closure of its solar module production facility in Freiberg, Germany, due to market conditions. The closure of Meyer Burger's German factory resulted in a 10% reduction in European solar module production.
Following the closure of its German module factory, Meyer Burger announced in April that it plans to use funds raised from the issuance of over 20 billion new shares to expand in the United States. Currently, Meyer Burger is constructing a 2 GW module production facility in Arizona and a 2 GW cell manufacturing plant in Colorado Springs. Both factories will produce heterojunction technology (HJT) products.
Source: Huaxia PV, Century New Energy