Solarwatt celebrates its 30th anniversary: Exactly three decades ago, the founders signed the partnership agreement and started the manual production of solar modules. Today, more than 800 people work for the Dresden-based company across Europe.
One billion euros turnover by 2025
By 2025, the system provider for the solar energy transition wants to achieve a turnover of one billion euros. This corresponds to about 200,000 photovoltaic systems sold across Europe. "30 years in the German solar industry is really an output we can be proud of," says Solarwatt Managing Director Detlef Neuhaus. "We have developed from a small greentech start-up into one of the market leaders in Germany and Europe. We also see ourselves quite excellently positioned for the future."
Pacemaker of the solar industry
Solarwatt was founded in 1993 by Dr Frank Schneider and Lothar Schlegel in Dresden and drives the industry forward with technological innovations. The company uses stringers developed in-house to manufacture the solar modules and launches the first glass-glass solar module on the market in 1998. "Double glass modules have a significantly longer lifetime than conventional glass-foil modules due to the use of glass panes on the front and back," explains Detlef Neuhaus. "This development has had a decisive influence on Solarwatt." Today, Solarwatt produces exclusively glass-glass modules in the new module production F8 in Dresden.
Rapid expansion of the module factory
In 2000, Solarwatt opened the first series production of solar modules in Dresden. Only two years later, two more production lines were started. In 2002, Solarwatt exceeded the 100-employee mark and increased its turnover to 16 million euros.
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In 2005, the Dresden-based company went public to raise capital for further growth. By 2007, annual turnover had risen to more than 200 million euros. The production capacity was 100 megawatts per year.
Using the crisis as an opportunity
In 2010, the Dresden-based company turned over 325 million euros and employs almost 500 people across Germany. However, it fell into the industry crisis in 2011. 2011 was also the year when Detlef Neuhaus joined Solarwatt, initially as sales director. He has been managing director since 2012.
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The crisis as an opportunity: with the help of its most important shareholder, Solarwatt is transforming from a module producer to a system provider for solar sector coupling. "At that time, the battle for the mass market had long since been lost to the competitors from Asia," Neuhaus judges in retrospect. "The new system strategy was the only way to lead our company into the future." (mfo)
