Our journeyBIG NAMES, PROUD SUCCESSES.

Names that we have been working with since the very early days, and that are closely associated with our successes in the field of photovoltaics.

We have had various teams carrying out research into CIS thin film technology ever since 1981.

ONCE A PIONEER, ALWAYS A PIONEER.

In 1998 we became the first company anywhere in the world to start commercial volume production of CIS in Camarillo, California. And with an annual capacity of 3 megawatts, we were able to demonstrate even then the tremendous potential of this technology. Today, AVANCIS possesses the longest experience in the development and production of CIS thin film modules and is the first company to start manufacturing the second generation of CIS.

PREMIUM QUALITY – RIGHT HERE.

With our specialists recruited from all over the world - all experts in their field - we safeguard both high-end research in Munich and state-of-the-art production in Torgau. In short, we harness global expertise for a quality feature of a very special kind - "made in Germany".

SYNERGIES FOR YOUR SUCCESS

Naturally, we continue to draw on the resources of our parent companies: this enables us to profit from many years’ experience in the coating and heat treatment of glass, two of the core areas of expertise of Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s leading providers of glass for construction and automobiles. This gives us the advantage of invaluable synergies in a dynamically growing photovoltaics market. And it enables us to fulfill our customers’ high expectations with the required maximum reliability.

2010

Saint-Gobain decides to build a second plant to produce high-efficiency photovoltaic modules in Torgau, Germany. The new Avancis plant will have a production output of 100 MWp/year.

2009

15.1 % aperture efficiency on a 300 x 300 mm² module, confirmed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

2009

Saint-Gobain is pushing ahead with its growth in the field of renewable energies and taking over Shell’s share of the previous joint venture.

2008

Start of AVANCIS series production in Torgau

2006

Shell and Saint-Gobain form AVANCIS, a joint venture company for the development, production and marketing of the next generation of CIS

2005

Record efficiency of 13.5% for a 30x30 cm CIS module - as measured by TÜV Rhineland, Cologne

2003

Efficiency world record for a 0.5 m2 module: 13.1% (TÜV-certified)

2002

Shell Solar acquires Siemens Solar: technology development programs of Siemens Solar and Shell Solar are merged

2001

Award from the DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) for innovations in the energy sector

1999

Recognition from American magazine R&D for one of the 100 most technologically important new product developments

1998

Start of the world's first commercial series production of CIS in Camarillo, California

1981

ARCO Solar begins researching CIS