SonnenstromFabrik

What SonnenstromFabrik does

Sonnenstromfabrik (legal entity CS Wismar GmbH) is a German manufacturer of photovoltaic modules headquartered in Wismar and operating as a subsidiary of the diversified CENTROTEC Group. The company produces both its own branded modules and OEM third-party modules on behalf of other solar manufacturers, with a portfolio that spans glass/glass and glass/foil constructions, back contact cell technology in the Professional line, half-cut cell technology in the Sapphire line, and specialty variants for off-grid, roof-integrated (Integration), transparent (Brilliant), and DIBt-approved building-integrated applications. Low Carbon variants of Professional and Excellent XL modules serve sustainability-procured European projects. Production is positioned as CO2-audited and made in Germany, with warranties extending up to 30 years on glass/glass modules and a comprehensive photovoltaic protection offering that covers modules, storage, and balance-of-system components.

The company sells exclusively through B2B channels: regional wholesalers and distributors carry the portfolio, installers purchase from those wholesalers for residential and commercial projects, and dedicated contact forms route inquiries by country and product category. Named served geographies include Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy, and the company actively participates in Intersolar Munich to generate installer and wholesaler pipeline. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and quotes are handled directly via sales contact channels.

Strategic posture is centered on European supply-chain reshoring: the company emphasizes its 25+ year brand heritage, "made in Germany" manufacturing, CO2-optimized production with regular audits, and industry recognition including the Top Brand PV 2024 award. The company has historically been led by CEO Dr. Bernhard Weilharter, who departed on June 30, 2023 after eight years; no successor is disclosed in the available data. No venture funding rounds, acquisitions, or public listing events are present in the source material.

Name

SonnenstromFabrik

Legal name

CS Wismar GmbH

Website

https://sonnenstromfabrik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sonnenstromfabrik (CS Wismar GmbH) is a German photovoltaic module manufacturer and CENTROTEC Group subsidiary producing glass/glass and glass/foil modules under its own brand and as OEM for other solar manufacturers, sold B2B through wholesalers and installers across Germany, France, Benelux, and Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Photovoltaic Module Manufacturing

akta.pro primary industry

Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film) (EUAMABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA), Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats) (EUACAGAK)

Keywords

• Photovoltaic module manufacturing
• Solar panel production
• Glass-glass solar modules
• Building-integrated photovoltaics
• European PV modules

Headquarters

HQ city

Wismar

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Own Brand Solar Modules: Sonnenstromfabrik produces and sells solar modules under its own brand name, including glass/glass and glass/foil modules in various series (DIAMOND, SAPPHIRE, Brilliant, Integration, Excellent, Professional).
2. Third-Party/OEM Manufacturing: The company manufactures modules on behalf of other solar manufacturers (third-party modules), serving as an OEM partner for other brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SonnenstromFabrik (CS Wismar GmbH) manufactures photovoltaic modules in Wismar, Germany, producing both its own branded portfolio (Professional Glass/Glass BC, Diamond Glass/Glass, Sapphire Glass/Foil, Excellent, Excellent XL, Brilliant, Integration, and DIBt-approved light-transmitting modules) and third-party OEM modules on behalf of other solar manufacturers. The product range spans framed and frameless glass/glass modules, glass/foil standard modules, and specialized variants such as off-grid and roof-integrated modules, with warranties ranging from 12 to 30 years depending on construction.

Product overview

Sonnenstromfabrik is a German manufacturer producing photovoltaic modules under its own brand and third-party modules on behalf of other solar manufacturers. The product portfolio comprises four main categories: (1) PROFESSIONAL series featuring back contact technology in glass/glass construction; (2) DIAMOND and EXCELLENT glass/glass modules available in framed and frameless variants; (3) SAPPHIRE and EXCELLENT glass/foil modules with half-cut cell technology; (4) Special modules including Brilliant transparent panels, Integration roof-integrated modules, and DIBt-approved light-transmitting modules. The company also offers Low Carbon variants for sustainability-focused installations. Guarantees range from 12 years (glass/foil) to 30 years (glass/glass with extended coverage).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Professional Glass-Glass: Back contact PV modules with glass/glass construction for professional use
• Diamond Glass/Glass
• Sapphire Glass/Foil
• Brilliant
• Integration
• Excellent
• Excellent XL

Products and services

• Professional Glass/Glass M108 (BC) Professional M108 PV modules with back contact technology and robust glass/glass construction, sold to installers and wholesalers for high-performance residential and commercial solar installations.
• DIAMOND Glass/Glass Full-black glass/glass PV modules in the DIAMOND series for installers seeking premium aesthetic design combined with glass/glass durability.
• SAPPHIRE Glass/Foil Glass/foil modules meeting highest quality and aesthetic requirements, produced with CO2-optimized processes and new half-cut cell technology for additional yield.
• Excellent Glass/Glass Framed and frameless glass/glass modules in the EXCELLENT series for standard PV installations requiring glass/glass durability.
• Integration Glass/Glass Roof-integrated glass/glass modules designed for seamless architectural integration into building roofs.
• Excellent (Glass/Foil) Standard glass/foil PV module with 12-year product guarantee as standard, for typical residential and commercial PV installations.
• Excellent XL (Glass/Foil) Extended-size variant of the Excellent glass/foil module for larger-format PV installations.
• Brilliant (Transparent panels) Transparent solar panels designed for light-transmitting applications such as façades, canopies, and architectural glazing.
• DIBt Light-Transmitting Solar Modules Light-transmitting solar modules with German DIBt (Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik) approval for regulated building-integrated applications in the German market.
• Professional Low Carbon Low-carbon variant of the Professional PV module for sustainability-focused installations.
• Excellent XL Low Carbon Low-carbon variant of the Excellent XL glass/foil module for sustainability-focused installations.
• OEM / Third-Party Module Manufacturing Contract manufacturing of photovoltaic modules on behalf of other solar manufacturers under OEM/private-label arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Glass/glass modules with 20-year standard guarantee, extendable to 30 years
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• JA Solar Technology: Major Chinese PV module producer with growing European footprint. Comparable as a broad incumbent setting price and technology benchmarks across European residential, commercial, and utility segments.
• JinkoSolar: Top-tier global PV module manufacturer with extensive European sales presence. Represents the large-scale commodity competition that European premium manufacturers like SonnenstromFabrik must differentiate against.
• LONGi Green Energy: World's largest monocrystalline silicon and PV module producer based in China. Sets the global cost benchmark and technology roadmap (including back-contact modules) that SonnenstromFabrik must compete against.
• Astronergy (CHINT Solar): PV module arm of Chinese conglomerate CHINT with significant European operations including a German manufacturing facility. Comparable as an Asian incumbent with local European production targeting similar customers.
• Trina Solar: Vertically integrated Chinese PV manufacturer with strong European distribution and utility-scale project activity. Comparable as a global broad incumbent competing in both premium and value segments.

Direct peers

• Meyer Burger Technology: Swiss-headquartered PV module manufacturer with production in Germany (formerly SolarWorld's Freiberg facility). Directly comparable as a European premium PV module maker competing on technology, quality, and European-made positioning.
• Heckert Solar: German PV module manufacturer based in Chemnitz producing glass/glass and glass/foil modules for the European market. Closely comparable in size, product range, and focus on quality and sustainability in the German premium PV segment.
• REC Group: Norwegian-headquartered PV module manufacturer with European brand recognition and premium product positioning. Comparable as a European-region PV module brand competing on quality, warranty, and aesthetics.
• Maxeon Solar Technologies: Premium global PV module maker (spun off from SunPower) with European manufacturing footprint and IBC/back-contact technology focus. Comparable as a premium-technology PV module competitor in European residential and commercial markets.
• IBC Solar: German PV system provider with own module manufacturing and a wide European installer/wholesale distribution network. Comparable in go-to-market model targeting installers and wholesalers with European-made modules.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SonnenstromFabrik