Meyer Burger, Germany’s largest solar panel producer, has announced that it will not be closing its German solar cell manufacturing plant to relocate to the USA.
The company had previously announced the plant’s closure in January 2024, to build a new plant in Colorado Springs, USA.
In a statement, Meyer Burger explained that the move is no longer financially viable following recent developments which have halted the project.
Meyer Burger was previously set to collaborate with a USA-based technology company, which is also no longer viable following the company’s refocused strategy. The existing cell manufacturing facility in Thalheim, Germany, will continue to operate at full capacity as the “backbone” of Meyer Burger’s ongoing solar cell supply.
The company is additionally refocusing on the “nominal capacity of 1.4GW” of its Goodyear plant in Arizona. According to Meyer Burger, the capacity has been mostly installed but is being “ramped up”.
The production capacities of the Goodyear plant will enable Meyer Burger to continue meeting its current long-term purchase contracts. Conversations are currently in the works with potential customers for “the purchase of additional quantities under the new conditions”.
Changes
According to Meyer Burger’s statement, the previously aimed for external financing through monetised 45X tax credits will still be pursued but on a smaller level. These will be tailored to module production in the USA.
The statement further notes that the company’s Board of Directors has asked management to implement restructuring and cost-reducing initiatives that will eventually encourage “sustainable profitability”. As such, the publication of Meyer Burger’s half-year figures has been postponed to September 30th, having previously been scheduled for September 16th.
Mark Kerekes, a member of the Board of Directors, has resigned. Franz Richter, Chairman of the Board of Directors, concludes: “We would like to thank Mark Kerekes for his very constructive cooperation and his significant contributions during his membership of the Board of Directors.”
[Image credit: Meyer Burger]
