Thalheim, 23 November 2006: Q-Cells AG (QCE; WKN 555866) is investing in a new photovoltaic technology to complement its current technology portfolio. Q-Cells, the world's second-largest manufacturer of solar cells, is joining forces with Solibro AB from Uppsala, Sweden, to set up a joint venture under the name of Solibro GmbH, in which Q-Cells will hold a share of 67.5%. Solibro GmbH will commercialise the copper indium gallium di-selenide (CIGS) thin-film technology developed in Sweden by Solibro AB. For this purpose there are plans to build an initial factory in Thalheim, which will have an annual production capacity of 25 to 30 MWp. Q-Cells AG will initially pay Solibro AB ¤ 4 million for its 67.5% share and ¤ 20 million against the achievement of technological milestones. The parties involved are expected to take a decision on the construction of the first production site in Thalheim by mid 2007. Q-Cells AG plans to invest ¤ 60 million in this first stage of expansion. Solibro AB is a spin-off from the widely renowned CIGS research group at the University of Uppsala's Ångström Solar Center. The main shareholders of Solibro AB are the Swedish pension fund Sjätte AP-Fonden and the Norwegian investment firm Energy Future Invest. Ownership of the technology developed by Solibro AB, for which three patent applications have been filed, and all related assets will be transferred to Solibro GmbH. The current pilot line in Uppsala will be transformed to a manufacturing development centre, operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Solibro GmbH. This centre will provide technological support to the production and drive further CIGS developments of strategic importance. Solibro processes at its pilot line in Uppsala solar active CIGS layers on glass substrates of industrial size. Already today, module efficiencies exceeding 11.5% (independently confirmed) have been achieved. Based on a closely related technology, the affiliated research group at the Ångström Solar Center has realised efficiencies of up to 16.6% (minimodules) and 18.5% (solar cells) under laboratory conditions. CIGS technology combines several benefits: it does not require any silicon and in comparison to other thin-film technologies CIGS has the potential of very high module efficiencies, exceeding 12% in industrial production. The aesthetic appearance of the black modules also makes them well suited for integration into the facades and roofs of buildings. Further information ISIN: DE0005558662 Listed in the official market (Prime Standard) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Registered in: Federal Republic of Germany Q-Cells Aktiengesellschaft Stefan Lissner Head of Investor Relations Guardianstrasse 16 06766 Thalheim Germany [email protected] Tel.: +49 (0)3494 668 887