03.08.2011 – 09:57

centrotherm photovoltaics AG

EANS-News: centrotherm photovoltaics anticipates increased demand for upgrade orders in the field of solar cell production over the coming months

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Company Information

Subtitle:     • Market potential of over EUR 1 billion to the end of 2012
    • Sales offensive launched for selective emitter and centaurus rear side 
upgrade technologies
    • Revenue and earnings forecast confirmed for the 2011 financial year


Blaubeuren (euro adhoc) - August 3, 2011 - centrotherm photovoltaics AG has
identified significant demand for high-performance cells and modules emanating
from solar cell manufacturers. "Manufacturers who achieve high efficiency levels
have made good use of their production facilities´ capacities", explained Dr.
Peter Fath, CTO of centrotherm photovoltaics. "Mono-crystalline solar cells with
over 18% efficiency and multi-crystalline solar cells with over 16.5% efficiency
are selling well on the end customer market. Solar cells with significantly
poorer values only sell reasonably well and achieve much lower prices."

Of the approximately 1,000 solar cell production lines worldwide, around 800
could be upgraded. There is market potential of over EUR 1 billion until the
end of next year for the two upgrade technologies - selective emitter and
centaurus rear side. centrotherm photovoltaics is aiming to take advantage of
this and is currently improving the performance of existing lines in China,
Taiwan and India through the deployment of selective emitter technology. Total
investment amounts to a double-digit million euro figure. The first plants will
produce solar cells with the centaurus rear side technology by the end of 2011.
centrotherm photovoltaics anticipates that revenue from the upgrade business
will reach a three-digit million euro figure by the end of next year.

Selective emitter technology can increase the efficiency of mono-crystalline
solar cells up to 0.4 percentage points to reach an efficiency level of well
over 18%. If centaurus rear side technology is also used, efficiency can even
reach the 19% range.

The world´s leading supplier of technology and equipment to the photovoltaic
industry has also confirmed its forecast for the 2011 financial year with
revenue increasing to EUR 690 to 710 million with a low, double-digit EBIT
margin.

About centrotherm photovoltaics AG
centrotherm photovoltaics AG, which is based at Blaubeuren, Germany, is the
world's leading technology and equipment provider for the photovoltaics sector.
The company equips well-known solar companies and new sector entrants with
turnkey production lines and single equipment to manufacture silicon, ingots and
bricks, crystalline solar cells and thin film modules. As a consequence, the
Group possesses a broad and well-founded technological basis, as well as key
equipment at practically all steps of the photovoltaics value chain. centrotherm
photovoltaics guarantees its customers important performance parameters such as
production capacity, efficiencies, and completion deadlines. The Group employs
over 1,700 staff members, and operates in Europe, Asia and the USA. Centrotherm
photovoltaics achieved revenue in the 2010 financial year of EUR 624,2 million,
EBIT of EUR 75.4 million. The company is listed in the TecDAX index on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Contact:
Saskia Feil
Senior Manager Investor & Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8890
E-mail:  saskia.feil@centrotherm.de

Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8898
E-mail:  torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de


Further inquiry note:
Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel.: 07344 - 918-8898
E-Mail:  torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 
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company:     centrotherm photovoltaics AG
             Johannes-Schmid-Str. 8
             D-89143 Blaubeuren
phone:       +49 (0) 7344 91880
mail:         info@centrotherm.de
WWW:         http://www.centrotherm.de
sector:      Energy
ISIN:        DE000A0JMMN2
indexes:     TecDAX
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
             Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München 
language:   English