The Company
NorSun is a Norwegian solar energy company that manufactures and markets high performance monocrystalline silicon ingots and wafers. Annual production capacity at the company’s modern production facilities in Årdal, Norway and Vantaa, Finland exceeds 250 MWp.
NorSun’s customers are industry shaping manufacturers of high efficiency solar cells that value product quality and performance, technological innovation and lasting reliability. The company is committed to grow economies of scale and deliver technological advances that contribute to an efficient and affordable conversion of sunlight into electricity.
FACTS & FIGURES
Head office: Oslo, Norway
Production facilities: Årdal, Norway and Vantaa, Finland
Workforce:
233
at Årdal, 19 in Oslo, 2 in Singapore
Product areas: Customized
monocrystalline wafers for high efficiency solar cells
STRATEGY
NorSun’s strategic objective is to be the preeminent provider of monocrystalline wafers for the global solar energy industry.
We want our company and products to symbolize world class leadership in product performance, quality, technological innovation and lasting reliability within the industry domain in which we operate.
Our core industry domain is the worldwide high efficiency solar energy segment; in particular the polysilicon sourcing to wafer slicing portion of the photovoltaic value chain:
HISTORY
NorSun was founded in December 2005 by Dr. Alf Bjørseth who had previously founded Renewable Energy Company. The mission of the new company was to become a world leading producer of mono-crystalline wafers for high-efficiency wafers. A facility was constructed in Årdal, Norway. Production of mono-crystalline ingots was initiated in early 2008 and further expanded to wafer production in mid 2009.
The Company has successfully arranged long-term ingot and wafer supply agreements with leading high-efficiency cell manufacturers. Based on these agreements the production has been and is continuing to run at full capacity utilization. An expansion project is being planned and the timing of the execution will depend on the medium term market development.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
Good Energies (21.9 %)
Good Energies is a leading global investor in renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. The firm invests in solar, turbine-based renewables, green building technologies and other emerging areas within clean energy. Founded in 2001, Good Energies manages the renewable energy portfolio of COFRA, a family owned and managed group of companies.
Scatec (19.2 %) Scatec AS serves as the nucleus for the development of new business ideas within the areas of renewable energy and environmentally friendly ‘advanced materials’. NorSun works within a wide international network. The firm evaluates trends within growing markets and assess new technologies within areas of competence where Norway is considered traditionally strong. Based on these evaluated concepts, Scatec invests in and develops new businesses.
Hydro (17.7 %)
Hydro is an integrated aluminium and energy company, and a global supplier
of aluminium products. Based in Norway the company employs more than 20 000
people in 40 countries and has activities on all continents. Hydro has more
than 100 years of industrial experience, is currently the world’s fourth
biggest producer of aluminium and is one of Norway’s top three producers of
renewable energy.
ITOCHU (3.3 %)
With 150 overseas bases in 75 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading sogo shosha, is engaging in domestic trading, import/export, and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, information and communications technology, aerospace, electronics, energy, metals, minerals, chemicals, forest products, general merchandise, food, finance, realty, insurance, and logistics services, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Inge K. Hansen, Chairman of the Board
Sam Syvertsen, Board member
- Investment director, Arendals Fossekompani
Just Spee, Board member
- Managing Director, Alvarez &
Marsal
Dr. Alf Bjørseth, Board member
- Founder and owner of Scatec
- Founder and CTO, NorSun
Arnstein Sletmoe, Board member
- Head of Mergers & Aquisitions,
Norsk Hydro
Michio
Tanaka, Board member
- Solar Energy Department, Itochu
Hilde Larsen, Board member
- Employee representative
Steinar Fodnes, Board member
- Employee representative
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Jon Hindar, Chief Executive Officer
- SVP Life Sciences Division, Invitrogen, CA, USA
- CEO of Dynal Biotech and Fondsfinans
- Management positions at Dyno Nobel, Alcatel and BP Chemicals
Dr. Alf Bjørseth, Chief Technology Officer
- Founder and CEO of REC
-
Director of Technology, Elkem
- Corporate Director of Research, Norsk Hydro
Hanne Dybwad, Chief Financial Officer
- Finance Director, Invitrogen Dynal
- Controller Group Accounts, Norway Seafoods
- Assistant Controller, Aker
- Senior Auditor, KPMG
Lars Halvor Langmoen, Vice President Sales & Business Development
- Business Developer, NorSun
- Head of Business Models, DnB Nor Innovation
- Analyst/Consultant, DnB Nor Consulting
Tom Andersen, Vice President Quality/Expansion projects/Capacity
- Head of European Nuclear Manufacturing and PET Supply Chain, GE Health Care
- Plant Director, Amersham Health Care, China/Nycomed
Dr. Øyvind Nielsen, Vice President Research & Development
- Research Manager, SINTEF
- Deputy Research Director for Metallurgy, SINTEF
Dr. Jo Døhl, Vice President Supply Chain, HR & IT
- Director of HR, Nycomed/Amersham/GE
- R&D, SINTEF
Bjørn-Olav Brelin, General Counsel
- General Counsel, Scatec
- Partner, Frick Langseth
Håkon Kvåle, Vice President Customer Service
- Director, Special Projects & IT, Luxo ASA
- Senior Manager, Accenture
Per Arinn Solli, Vice President Operations Årdal
- Potline Manager, Qatar Aluminum
- Production Manager, Norsk Hydro Årdal