Definition
PV Crystalox Solar plc was a publicly traded company that manufactured multicrystalline silicon wafers for use in photovoltaic (PV) modules.
Overview
Founded in the mid‑2000s through the merger of PV Crystal and Crystalox, the firm was incorporated in the United Kingdom and listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its core business involved the production of high‑efficiency silicon wafers, a key intermediate product in the fabrication of solar cells. PV Crystalox Solar operated manufacturing facilities in Europe, most notably a wafer‑production plant in Germany and additional processing capacity in the United Kingdom. The company supplied its wafers to a range of PV module manufacturers worldwide.
In 2011, the German photovoltaic group SolarWorld AG acquired a controlling interest in PV Crystalox Solar. Following the acquisition, the company’s operations were integrated into SolarWorld’s production chain, and PV Crystalox Solar was eventually delisted from the London Stock Exchange.
Etymology/Origin
The name combines the abbreviation “PV,” standing for photovoltaic, with “Crystalox,” a brand name historically associated with crystalline silicon processing. The suffix “Solar” emphasizes the company’s focus on solar‑energy applications.
Characteristics
- Product focus: Multicrystalline silicon wafers (typically 156 mm and 180 mm in size) designed for thin‑film and crystalline‑silicon PV cells.
- Manufacturing technology: Use of directional solidification and wafer‑slicing processes to achieve high crystal quality and low impurity levels.
- Capacity: At its peak, the company reported annual wafer output in the range of several hundred megawatts (MW) of module capacity, though exact figures varied by year.
- Ownership changes: Majority acquisition by SolarWorld AG in 2011, leading to restructuring and eventual cessation of independent operations.
Related Topics
- Photovoltaic (PV) industry
- Silicon wafer manufacturing
- SolarWorld AG
- Multicrystalline silicon
- Renewable energy supply chains
Note: The information presented reflects publicly available data up to 2023. Certain operational specifics, such as exact production capacities and the locations of all facilities, are not fully detailed in publicly accessible sources.