Meyer Burger Technology AG is developing a new module production facility with an additional 400 MW at the Freiberg, Germany site, using space in its logistics center in the immediate proximity of the existing plant. To this end, the company is using solar cell capacities from the production site in Thalheim (Bitterfeld-Wolfen) that are initially, on a short-term basis, being handled in Germany instead of the U.S. This will help optimize the planned expansion to a total nominal annual capacity of 1.4 GW for 2023.

The company is proactively addressing the tense situation, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, by pursuing further development in Germany. The use of available synergies through additional development in an existing building in Freiberg, the existing production capacities in Germany, and the elimination of long transport times for machines and systems to the U.S. optimizes the timetable. Furthermore, supply chain risks are minimized and, more significantly, human resources can be put to more efficient use. Sales of the high-performance modules in the U.S. solar market are progressing as planned and are unaffected by the decision.

As planned, Meyer Burger is simultaneously pursuing its expansion strategy in the U.S. in order to develop a medium-term solar module production with an annual capacity of up to 1.5 GW in Goodyear, Ariz. The preparatory work in the plant began on schedule in the first quarter of 2022. The planned expansion of the module capacities at the Goodyear site requires synchronized growth of the solar cell production beyond the ongoing expansion to a capacity of 1.4 GW. For this anticipated growth in capacity beyond 1.4 GW, Meyer Burger has obtained a long-term lease on an additional building on the same site as the premises already used in Solar Valley in Thalheim, and can now begin preparing the further development of production.