The story behind Soltecture

Soltecture was founded in July 2001 by Nikolaus Meyer – the company’s current CEO – together with colleagues from the Hahn-Meitner Institute, which has now been renamed the Helmholtz Centre Berlin. They seized the opportunity to launch a newly researched thin-film technology for solar modules for use with large-scale formats and industrial systems. In 2004, pilot production began in a 1,200-m² plant in Berlin-Adlershof. One year later Soltecture was able to unveil the first prototypes of its product and began marketing the modules at the end of 2005.

Soltecture devoted itself to the pilot production for five years and was able to continually improve the product and technology during this period. Since 2007, Soltecture has been producing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The output volume increased to 2.4 MW per year and the reject rate reduced to less than 18% - and that in the smallest of spaces and without automation technology. 75,000 solar modules were produced and sold in the period from 2005 to 2009, and hundreds of solar power systems have provided testimony to the modules’ performance capability. Soltecture is therefore one of the few companies worldwide to have not only CIS expertise at is disposal but also the ability to deploy this innovative material in production. Given this background, in 2008 Soltecture was able to persuade renowned investors to provide the company with equity amounting to 85 million euros. Soltecture used this capital to construct a new factory in 2009 that is ten times larger and to intensify its research and development programme.

With the inauguration of the company’s new headquarters by Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Klaus Wowereit, the company’s transfer to mass production was successfully completed at the end of 2009. At the technology park in Berlin-Adlershof, Soltecture has constructed a 17,000 m² production plant and a 3,000 m² office block. From 2010 onwards, the production capacity is being gradually stepped up to 35 megawatts a year. The further expansion to 75 megawatts is already being prepared and will be achieved in the same building.