- CEO
- Frank H. Asbeck
- Full Time Employees
- 2,898
- Sector
- Technology
- Industry
- Consumer Electronics
- Address
- Martin-Luther-King-Strasse 24 Bonn NW Germany 53175
- IPO Date
- Sep 9, 2009
- Business
- SolarWorld Aktiengesellschaft (SRWRF) manufactures and sells solar power products for on-grid and off-grid applications worldwide through its Production Germany, Production U.S., and Trade segments; core offerings include Sunmodule Plus, Sunmodule Bisun, and Sunmodule XL solar modules, SolarWorld Kits comprising components for constructing and operating solar power systems, Sundeck roof-integrated solutions for rooftop covers and refurbishment projects, Sunfix Plus mounting systems for pitched or flat roofs, Sunfix aero and Sunfix Bisun flat roof mounting systems, Suntrol for system data monitoring, Suntool planning software for architects, fitters, planners, and wholesale traders, Sunplug eco inverters for domestic solar systems, KOSTAL inverters, and Sunpass for planning, installation, and documentation of solar array key data; the company also distributes solar systems and modules while selling wafers and cells to home and business owners, energy suppliers, and institutional customers. Founded in 1988 by Frank Asbeck and headquartered in Bonn, Germany, SolarWorld integrates the solar value chain from polysilicon feedstock to module production, turn-key solar power systems, and related trade activities across Europe, the United States, Asia, and Africa. Recent major changes encompass multiple insolvencies, including SolarWorld AG's filing in May 2017 due to price distortions and a US$770 million lawsuit from silicon supplier Hemlock, followed by asset acquisition in August 2017 by founder Frank Asbeck and Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) to form debt-free SolarWorld Industries GmbH with 500 employees focused on mono PERC cell production and 700 MW capacity; a second insolvency of the new entity in March 2018 led to production closure in Freiberg by September 2018 and transfer of workers; US subsidiary SolarWorld Americas received creditor funding including a US$5 million loan in 2018 for manufacturing resumption before its April 2018 acquisition by SunPower Corporation, which closed the Hillsboro facility in January 2021; facilities in Arnstadt were taken over from Bosch Solar Energy in 2013, while the Freiberg site sold around 2020 to Meyer Burger for solar cell production starting 2021.