Press Release Clean Energy & Ocean Solutions

European Installers Give Excellent Grades to Q CELLS

December 19, 2014
  • Q CELLS is one of the leading PV brands in Europe according to EuPD Research European PV Installer Monitor 2014/2015©
  • The PV brand extends its market penetration in European PV markets
  • The Q CELLS brand performs outstandingly at several independent studies

Q CELLS' solar modules are very positively perceived among European installers and are widely distributed. This is the result of the latest EuPD Research European PV InstallerMonitor 2014/2015, an independent study among more than 750 European installers. Q CELLS has been graded on an excellent scale in comparison to other manufacturers. The brand awareness has improved significantly year over year in the European markets France, Germany and Italy, compared to previous surveys. Q CELLS extends its strong presence within these important PV markets. In terms of market penetration Q CELLS is among the Top 3 brands in Italy and France. The criterion market penetration refers to the percentage of installers purchasing Q CELLS products. In terms of customer satisfaction Q CELLS holds the best position compared to the competition in Italy; module quality is a major criteria in each of the countries when choosing a manufacturer. When it comes to brand awareness, Q CELLS has largely increased its unaided awareness in Italy from 10 to 22 percent and in France from 4 to 18 percent positioning the brand among the Top 3. In Germany the brand’s awareness has doubled from 7 to 14 percent.

Customers' trust based on performance and quality of Q CELLS' products

"I'd like to most warmly thank our customers for trusting in Q CELLS products. They can continuously rely on our products' performance and quality", said Justin Lee, CCO at Hanwha Q CELLS. "Next year, we aim to further extend our strong presence with new Q CELLS products powered by our Q.ANTUM Technology. On this way our key advantage lies in Q CELLS products' high quality "Engineered in Germany" and in our brand's excellent perception among customers." Q.ANTUM is a cell concept Q CELLS has invented and commercialized based on the sophisticated balancing of the whole cell architecture to maximize the energy yield. According to independent researchers, Q.ANTUM Technology holds the world efficiency records for polycrystalline solar cells (19.5 percent) and 60 cell modules (18.5 percent)*.

* According to the "Progress in Photovoltaics" Report Res. Appl. 2014; 22:701–710 © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

"Top Brand PV Europe 2014" and "VDE Quality Tested" products

Q CELLS has achieved outstanding results at several independent studies this year. According to an installer survey regarding brand recommendation in Germany published in "pv magazine" in November Q CELLS is a Top-Five brand. At this year's beginning, the trusty brand had already been commended with the seal "Top Brand PV Europe 2014" in Germany, France, the UK and Italy in the category "modules" by the market researcher EuPD Research. Thus Q CELLS is one of only a few PV brands receiving the seal "Top Brand PV" every year, when installers rate the brand above average in comparison to the competition. In the 2013 PHOTON module yield measurements a Q.PRO solar module from Q CELLS has outperformed its competition and came out as the No. 1 poly-crystalline module. Q CELLS modules are "VDE Quality Tested"; together with the VDE institute Q CELLS implemented the most comprehensive quality program of the industry. As IEC test criteria are not enough the PV company applies criteria from two up to three times harder in its own module testing center.

Regarding EuPD Research European PV InstallerMonitor 2014/2015©

The 7th edition of the European PV InstallerMonitor provides comprehensive insights into the European PV and storage market. The study is based on interviews with installers in five countries on PV brands' different aspects, for example market penetration and brand awareness. The market scope of the European PV InstallerMonitor 2014/2015 can be chosen according to own preferences from the Top European markets with high sale potential.

For more information:

Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH
Sonnenallee 17-21
06766 Bitterfeld-Wolfen (OT Thalheim), Germany

Corporate Communications
Jochen Endle, Robert Reinsch
Tel: +49 (0)3494 6699 10121
Email: presse@q-cells.com

Managing Directors
Hee Cheul Kim (CEO),
Kye Chun Son (CFO),
Koo Yung Lee (CCO)

Hanwha Qcells

Hanwha Qcells (Hanwha Solutions Qcells division) is one of the world’s leading clean energy companies, recognized for its established reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance, high-quality solar cells, and modules, a portfolio of intelligent storage systems, and a growing international pipeline of large-scale renewable energy projects. Hanwha Qcells also provides renewable electricity retail services and packages to end customers the world over. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ) with its diverse international manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Malaysia, China, and South Korea. Hanwha Qcells strives to offer Completely Clean Energy through the full spectrum of photovoltaic products, storage solutions, renewable electricity contracting, and large-scale solar power plants. Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa, and the Middle East, Hanwha Qcells provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental, and residential markets.

For more information, visit: www.qcells.com/us/

Hanwha Group

Founded in 1952, Hanwha has grown quickly by anticipating and responding to changing business environments with a balanced business portfolio that includes energy & materials, aerospace, finance and retail & services. Our expertise and synergy in key areas have catapulted us into the seventh-largest business in South Korea and a Fortune Global 500 company. Hanwha continues to grow rapidly as we strive to pursue global leadership in all of our businesses. We are building a robust foundation for sustainable development and a brighter future for everyone.

For more information, visit: www.hanwha.com