SolarWorld AG has entered into an agreement with the Shell Group to supply solar power equipment to rural Asia and Africa.
The agreement, which lasts until 2008, is in the double digit million dollar range. This is SolarWorld’s first entry into off-grid solar. It means providing smaller solar plants that provide electricity for lighting or for the operation of electrical equipment, for installations such as schools and hospitals. Grid-independent solar modules also supply electricity to remote telecommunications facilities and cross-country pipelines.
SolarWorld also announced it will complete the acquisition of Shell assets on July 1, at which time it will be among the world’s three largest providers of solar power. “After the closing the deal SolarWorld AG will be represented with its own production and sales activities in the world’s most important solar regions”, says CEO Frank H. Asbeck. “In the USA, which is heading for a solar boom in view of the many new funding programs like those in California, we have now become the largest producer of solar power technology.”
The new SolarWorld Industries America has two production sites in the USA: a silicon crystals growing production site in Vancouver and the integrated production of solar silicon wafers, cells and modules in Camarillo/California. New sales offices in Singapore and in South Africa complete the international positioning of the SolarWorld Group.