Nanosolar GmbH, which was acquired by Smartenergy Renewables AG in July 2013, has been renamed and operates under the new corporate name of Smartenergy Renewables Deutschland GmbH since November 1, 2013.

The company will continue to support existing customers with exchange modules, technical support, and service. To support the ramping up of new products and services, Smartenergy Renewables Deutschland is expanding the current workforce.

"We are transforming the company from a contract module manufacturer to a service and solution provider around PV and other renewable power plants," says Christian Pho Duc, managing director of Smartenergy Renewables Deutschland.

"We will serve our own and our clients' projects with highly efficient PV modules combined with investment solutions, asset management, O&M, and optimization services."

Smartenergy Renewables Deutschland owns a highly automated ISO certified module factory in Luckenwalde, Germany. The new product portfolio comprises utility cSi modules and BIPV modules which will be available in 2014. The utility modules have a peak power of 290Wp and 300Wp and will initially be used to build up own PV projects.

The advanced approach of a cSi based glass-glass construction with integrated and frameless edge seal has inherent advantages with respect to low module degradation lowering PID effects, long lifetime and fewer losses through dirt and snow.

The innovative BIPV modules for residential, commercial and industrial applications while using proven manufacturing techniques and high efficiency mono cSi cells integrates a novel design approach which makes the module compatible with a large variety of roof types and facades with high aesthetic fit.

"The high vertical integration will allow the group to capture incremental profit margins along the entire PV value chain," said Horst H. Mahmoudi, Executive Chairman of Smartenergy Renewables AG.

"With an expert leadership team in place, we are well on our way to fulfilling our vision to become an integrated Independent Power Producer."

Managing Directors
Christian Pho Duc, Managing Director: Prior to joining Smartenergy Renewables Deutschland, Christian was vice president sales at Nanosolar and vice president of sales in Europe at Solyndra. Before, he spent 15 years in the semiconductor industry in various management positions in particular as vice president of marketing at Infineon Technologies and later Qimonda, head of international sales at Giesecke and Devrient, and head of the Project Office at Siemens Semiconductors.

Christian earned his physics degree at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich and holds a master's degree in Semiconductor Physics and Microelectronics Engineering from Cambridge University in England. He is fluent in German, English, French, and Italian.

Mirco Boldt, Managing Director: Mirco led the panel operations of Nanosolar during the last 5 years. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade working for BMW AG in a wide variety of cross-functional leadership roles including manufacturing, factory maintenance and project leads on new BMW motorcycle technologies. He is an accredited electrical engineer and has been published in industry journals on "innovative conveyor technology for future assembly factory." Mirco speaks German, English, and Italian.