Will there be oversupply?

Hans-Martin Rüter,
Conergy AG, Chairman of the Management Board

Hans-Martin Rüter (born 1965) is an engineer, who was involved in scientific research on solar cells for satellites as a student. As the founder of SunTechnics GmbH, he himself designed and personally installed photovoltaic systems as early as 1996. He founded Conergy GmbH in 1998 and has served as the company's managing director since then. Following the company's conversion into a joint stock company, Hans-Martin Rüter has served as its chairman of the Management Board and is responsible for both strategy and marketing. Since March 2003 he has been president of the German Federal Solar Business Association (BSW). In the same year, he also received the »National Leadership Award« for outstanding executives from the Economic Forum Germany.

There will be oversupply and prices will fall dramatically: Conergy was already about to buy an existing silicon factory but then decided not to enter in the silicon business. Rüter is convinced, that enormous silicon production capacities will hit the market and demand won't rise at the same level, so silicon prices won't stay at their current levels. According to him prices will remain high in 2007, but by 2008 prices will be much lower. And he says one should keep in mind that silicon production is actually chemical production that creates a byproduct most newcomers can't make use of – but chemical companies can. Hence in the medium term, they'll have an advantage on the cost side. Therefore he sees no need for Conergy to produce its own silicon.

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