Odersun

About Odersun

Odersun AG was a German photovoltaics firm that specialized in the development and production of flexible solar cells. The company was established on November 14, 2002, with the specific goal of commercializing private scientific research that began in 1994. The founding CEO, Ramin Lavae Mokhtari, was pivotal in transitioning Odersun from a research institute into a commercial entity before his departure in 2009. His successor, Hein van der Zeeuw, a veteran of the semiconductor industry with experience at NXP Semiconductors, was brought in to guide the company through its subsequent growth phase.

The company's core business revolved around a proprietary and patented reel-to-reel manufacturing process for thin-film solar cells. This process utilized a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) or copper indium disulfide (CIS) semiconductor layer deposited onto a flexible copper tape. This method produced long, flexible solar cells that could be cut to virtually any size, interconnected, and then laminated into different module formats, offering a significant advantage in design flexibility over traditional silicon-based panels. Odersun's business model focused on the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) market, targeting architects and designers who could incorporate these customizable solar modules into building facades, roofs, and other structures as a functional and aesthetic alternative to conventional building materials.

During its operation, Odersun achieved notable recognition, including being named Europe's top clean technology company in 2008 and supplying thin-film solar modules for the Olympic Park in Beijing. The company attracted a diverse group of international investors and planned for significant expansion, including a joint venture to manufacture and sell its products in China. At its peak, Odersun employed over 320 people across its German sites. However, due to a lack of new orders, weak sales, and the failure to secure a new round of investment in a challenging market, the company generated almost no revenue towards its end. Odersun filed for insolvency in March 2012 and, after failing to find an investor, the proceedings were officially opened on June 1, 2012, leading to the company's closure.