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