In a rapidly-growing industry challenged by high costs, lack of standards and the need for technologies that enable the mass production of state-of-the-art solar panels to meet the growing variety of photovoltaic (PV) needs of customers, Frost & Sullivan found that Schott stands apart with year-on-year growth buoyed by a wide array of quality products, breakthrough technological innovations and a strong commitment to corporate social responsibilities (CSR).
“With solar cells, crystalline solar wafers, solar power modules and a-Si thin-film modules, Schott Solar provides a wide array of core components in the value chain of the solar energy market,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst, Suchismita Das. “Beyond offering the best durability factor, the company has grown its market share by providing the latest research on module materials and also by executing the most stringent testing procedures for modules.”
In a study lasting over 25 years conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute, Schott Solar’s sample solar modules differentiated themselves by an extremely low degradation percentage of less than 10 per cent, promising decades of reliable performance. Further, the company’s products pass rigorous certification tests that include DIN ISO 14001:2005 for meeting environmental regulations. To date, the company has successfully installed a total module surface of 5,000,000 square meters. Its modules undergo climate tests that are twice as strict as required by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In order to be 100% environment-friendly, Schott Solar produces calcium free PV.
Schott Solar pursues its commitment towards nature not only by introducing environmentally-friendly processes and materials, but also by carrying out certain programmes and developments for people, planet and profit. Some examples of CSR undertaken by Schott Solar include a 30 KW electric installation for the “Maria Malkia” mission station in Tanzania in 2006, and the installation of 5 KW solar in electric system in Baila’s rural hospital ward in the southern Senegalese province of Casamance in 2008. Moreover, Schott Solar is a founding member of the PV Cycle Association that encourages solar companies to replace older solar installations while recycling raw materials in an environmentally friendly manner.
Frost & Sullivan took all these factors into consideration before deciding to present the company with the 2010 European Frost & Sullivan Award for Growth Leadership, which rewards Schott for demonstrating excellence in capturing the highest annual compound growth rate for the last three years.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
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