The sun's energy is available to us on Earth in unlimited quantities. The raw materials needed for the manufacture of photovoltaic systems and the construction of solar power plants to harness this energy are not. Second-generation photovoltaics, particularly CIS/CIGS technology, is therefore based on high-performance semiconductor thin films that are just a fraction of the thickness of the layer used in conventional crystalline silicon solar cells.

The elements that are combined to produce the high-performance CIS coating – copper (Cu), indium (In), gallium (Ga), sulphur (S) and selenium (Se) – are used sparingly and therefore conserve scarce resources and save valuable energy right from the manufacturing stage.

In Central Europe, CIS photovoltaic modules require just 13 months to pay back the energy invested in their manufacture. This excellent energy balance makes photovoltaic systems and solar roofs with CIS technology a sustainable investment in a clean environment for the future.