Hanwha Q-Cells says it is not preparing to withdraw from Europe, despite industry rumors that it could close operations by early 2027. The speculation followed reports that its products were being sold at unusually low prices.
Responding to an inquiry from pv magazine, a company spokesperson said Q-Cells would continue operating in Europe. He confirmed that, after reviewing its subsidiaries, the company had decided to refocus its German subsidiary on its core business: research and development (R&D).
The restructuring will result in some job losses in sales and business development, the spokesperson said. At the same time, Hanwha Q-Cells is expanding its R&D workforce in Germany. The company has also announced its participation in a German research project focused on space photovoltaics.
The spokesperson also rejected rumors that Q-Cells would leave photovoltaic manufacturing altogether. The company’s decisions on R&D and the production of solar cells and modules are guided by global market conditions and economic factors, he said. Its other regions, including the United States, remain unchanged.
The changes follow an earlier decision to end direct sales of residential solar systems in Germany and rely instead on a network of about 1,000 authorized partners. The company attributed that move to weak demand in the German residential solar market; it did not disclose how many jobs were affected. The sales division facing closure is based in Berlin, while the German R&D center is in Bitterfeld-Wolfen.
Sources: pv magazine.