MUNICH, Germany — Solar cell manufacturer Q-Cells SE (Wolfen-Bitterfeld, Germany) has bought the remaining shares of thin film module manufacturer Solibro GmbH. With the move, Q-Cells emphasizes its commitment to the CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium, Sulphur/Selen) technology.

Solibro was launched as a joint venture of Q-Cells and Swedish Solibro AB; the purpose of the JV was to commercialize a CIGS technology developed at the university of Uppsala (Sweden). Modules using the technology feature an efficiency of about 12 percent at much lower prices than crystalline cells, the group claims.

Q-Cells owned already 67.5 percent of the Solibro shares and now increased this stake to 100 percent.

Mass production for the Solibro solar cells has been launched in 3Q 2008; currently a second production line is under construction. Production is scheduled to start in Q4; full capacity of 90 MWp will be reached within one year, the company said.

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