Bosch has acquired the majority shareholding in the module manufacturer aleo solar AG.
Bosch is also acquiring a more than 60% interest in Johanna Solar Technology GmbH, based in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, in which aleo holds a roughly 17% stake.
“With aleo solar and Johanna Solar, we are strengthening our photovoltaics business by completing our value added chain and opening up new distribution channels,” said Holger von Hebel, president of the Bosch Solar Energy division.
Bosch has now secured 68.7% of aleo solar which manufactures these solar panel modules using its own mono- and polycrystalline solar cells.
In 2008, the company generated sales of roughly €360m. Its manufacturing facilities are located in Prenzlau, Germany, and near Barcelona, Spain.
“We are looking forward to further developing our photovoltaics business together with aleo,” said Dr. Siegfried Dais, deputy chairman of the Bosch board of management with responsibility for the Solar Energy division.
The antitrust authorities have already granted the necessary approval.
Johanna started developing solar modules based on thin-film CIGS cells in 2006, going into production at the end of 2008.
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