− Hee Cheul (Charles) Kim, the newly appointed CEO of Hanwha Q CELLS as of October 1 2018, welcomed Reiner Haseloff at the Company’s R&D and technology center in Saxony-Anhalt on November 8 − The two figureheads discussed a broad range of topics, including investment in Saxony-Anhalt, employment, and technological advances in renewable energy − Mr. Kim remarked: “It is a great honor to receive Reiner Haseloff at Hanwha Q CELLS’ R&D and technology center in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt has long been a supporter of the Company’s work and goals, which include continuing to deliver employment opportunity and investment to the local region.”
[Thalheim, Germany, November 9, 2018] The CEO of Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: HQCL) (“Hanwha Q CELLS” or the “Company”), one of the largest solar cell and module manufacturers in the world, this week received Reiner Haseloff, Prime Minister of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, as a VIP guest at the Company’s R&D and technology center in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
Hee Cheul (Charles) Kim, who became Hanwha Q CELLS’ new CEO on October 1, warmly welcomed Reiner Haseloff on November 8 to Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH’s offices to discuss a broad range of topics related to renewable energy technology, investment and innovation, and engagement with the local region.
After exchanging initial pleasantries, the two figureheads seamlessly moved on to the matters at hand, which centered largely on Hanwha Q CELLS’ role as one of the most important employers in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The Prime Minister learned that since the acquisition by South Korea’s Hanwha Group in 2012 – thus creating Hanwha Q CELLS – the Company has rapidly scaled its global solar cell and module production capacity from approximately 1.3 GW to more than 8 GW currently, together with Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corporation, another affiliate of Hanwha Group. This places Hanwha Q CELLS firmly in the top 10 of solar manufacturers globally: a growth trajectory that has only been made possible thanks to the innovative efforts of the 460 staff who are currently employed at the Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH in Germany.
Equally, the Company’s role as one of the world’s largest solar firms should not be overlooked, Mr. Kim affirmed. Since the acquisition, Hanwha Q CELLS has invested approximately €28 million in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, paying combined wages of about €250 million during that time, Mr. Kim explained.
Building closer ties and a brighter future
The purpose of Mr. Haseloff’s visit to the Company was multifaceted. For one, the Prime Minister wished to reacquaint himself with Mr. Kim – an individual he knows well from Mr. Kim’s previous stint working in Germany as a Director for Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH. The Prime Minister also wished to use the opportunity to gain further insight into the impact that solar PV technology is having on assisting Germany’s Energiewende – the nation’s ambitious, long-term transition to renewable energy. Given the extreme heat and drought suffered by the state of Saxony-Anhalt during the summer, the impact of climate change has been directly felt by many people living in the region. The Prime Minister also heard how Hanwha Q CELLS remains committed to developing cutting-edge solar solutions that can help mitigate the effects of climate change at both a local and global scale.
In his new role as Hanwha Q CELLS’ CEO, Mr. Kim made it clear that one of his first priorities would be to visit the German operations that are vital for the technology leadership of the Company.
Mr. Kim remarked: “It is a great honor to receive Reiner Haseloff at Hanwha Q CELLS’ R&D and technology center in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt has long been a supporter of the Company’s work and goals, which include continuing to deliver employment opportunity and investment to the local region.”
The Prime Minister added: “It is great for Saxony-Anhalt that Hanwha Q CELLS is located here. The Company stands for research and development at the highest level – Engineered in Germany. I am also pleased that Hanwha stands by the Thalheim site. This indicates the high level of excellent work being carried out here, particularly in the area of quality assurance. The region needs even more beacons of innovation like this.”
About Hanwha Q CELLS
Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:HQCL) is one of the world´s largest and most recognized photovoltaic manufacturers for its high-performance, high-quality solar cells and modules. It is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ) with its diverse international manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and China. Hanwha Q CELLS offers the full spectrum of photovoltaic products, applications and solutions, from modules to kits to systems to large-scale solar power plants. Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East, the company provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental and residential markets. Hanwha Q CELLS is a flagship company of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 firm and a Top 10 business enterprise in South Korea. For more information, visit: http://www.hanwha-qcells.com.
