Johanna Solar Technology of Germany is licensing distribution rights for up to 80% of its CIGSSe (copper indium gallium sulfur selenide) thin-film solar modules to aleo solar [ed. all-lowercase correct], also of Germany.

Both firms will cooperate in the product launch: aleo will be responsible for product branding, while Johanna Solar will be responsible for technology branding (products will bear the label “made by Johanna”).

The agreement is for at least five years.

“This agreement opens up excellent sales perspectives for us, so that we can concentrate fully on the imminent start of production,” said JST’s managing director Jeroen Haberland.

aleo is to introduce the prototype of the new module in September at the 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference in Milan.

“We acquired an interest of 19% in Johanna Solar Technology early on [in 2006] in order to ensure our access to this thin film technology,” said Jakobus Smit, chairman of aleo’s management board.

Formed in 2001, aleo manufactures solar modules using silicon-based photovoltaic cells in Prenzlau, Brandenburg, with an annual capacity of 90 MW, and, since the beginning of 2007, in Santa María de Palautordera, Spain, with an annual capacity of 10 MW.

CIGSSe technology yields high levels of efficiency, rivaling crystalline silicon solar modules, the two companies claim.

“These modules are a very good fit for aleo,” said Smit. “Thin-film solar modules perform exceedingly well in hot environments as well, making them perfect for our internationalization strategy in Southern Europe.”