European cell maker Solland Solar expands

Solland Solar, located on the border of Germany and the Netherlands, is planning a second expansion within one year.

Shareholders of the solar cell producer have committed to increasing production capacity almost threefold.

From mid-2008, Solland Solar plans to produce a total of 170 MW of cells per year, up from its current 60 MW per year.

Solland is building an extra production facility on the German side of its industrial park, located midway between Heerlen and Aachen, where the company is based. The new facility is scheduled to enter into service in the spring of 2008.

Space has already been reserved at the current location for another two buildings in anticipation of further expansion.

Solland's expansion comes at a time when makers of solar cells and modules are growing their capacities as quick as possible to take advantage of increasing demand around the world.

Germany-based Photon Consulting estimates that the current worldwide production capacity of solar cells, 2.7 GW, will have increased by fourfold in 2010.

Solland Solar is a Dutch-German manufacturer of solar photovoltaic cells. It has been building cells since 2005.

Delta Solar and Sunergy acquired a controlling interest in Solland in February 2007.

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