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Established in 1992, Gällivare PhotoVoltaic AB – GPV – was the first, and is still one of the largest, Scandinavian producers of high quality Solar Power Modules for the solar industry.

The company targets a market, the solar industry, which in Europe is expected to grow well over 30% during 2010-2013.

Between 1993 and 2008, GPV was growing by 20-30% on a yearly basis and in 2009, GPV reached 486 Million SEK (€ 49,6 Million) in sales.

During 2009, the capacity increased by 50% to approximately 45MW/year and the plant currently has 65 employees.

Top Modern Production Facility & Premium Quality Guaranteed

Renewable energyGPV produces & and markets so-called Polycrystalline & Mono Crystalline PhotoVoltaic Solar Power Modules.

The company, situated in Gällivare (Lapland, Sweden), is a highly automated & top modern 2-½ production-line-plant.

The SwedModule

The solar cell modules consist of 5 different capacities:

• 75W-85W
• 120W-130W
• 130W-150W
• 165W-185W
• 200W-230W

During the production process, GPV only uses high quality raw materials coming from leading suppliers. Depending on the size of each solar module, every module consists of 36 to 72 so-called multi-crystalline or mono-crystalline cells.

The cells are encased in high transmission low-iron tempered glass, multi-layers of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) as well as Tedlar film.

This provides the solar modules with top-quality protection against external environmental effects, including “shading”.

Quality Control of the Highest Standards

GuaranteedDuring the production process, the modules pass several quality control checkpoints and they are carefully checked and tested prior to delivery. The final test takes place in a solar simulator, where the modules are tested under Standard Test Conditions (STC 1000W/m²). For quality and efficiency reasons, every modules serial number, as well as all test data, are stored in a separate database.

Bypass Diodes to Minimize Power Loss

GPV’s Solar Power Modules have bypass diodes to minimize power loss in case of shading.

25-Year Power Warranty

GPV offers a Product Warranty of 10-years and a 25-year Power Warranty for all of its standard products.

GPV guarantees 80% power during 25 years.

Premium Quality and Certifications

• SS EN ISO 14001: 200 (Environmental Management)
• SS EN ISO 14001: 200 (Environmental Management)
• TÜV acc. to EN IEC 61215(Design Qualification & Type Approval)
• EN IEC 61730 and IEC 61701 (Salt Mist Corrosion Testing)

The result? Top Quality Modules that also have protection against external environmental effects, incl. "shading".

History

1992
- Gällivare PhotoVoltaic AB was founded by Expandum AB and by local entrepreneurs

- Expandum is an organization created with the purpose of developing trade and industry in the Gällivare region

1999
- SolarWorld AG (www.solar-world.de) acquires a 71.3% share of GPV

- GPV was the first company with its own production of Solar Power Modules in SolarWorld’s portfolio

2002
- Gällivare PhotoVoltaic becomes a 100 % subsidiary of the Solar World Group (www.solar-world.de)

2003
- Opening of the largest solar power module production facility in Northern Europe.

- GPV now has one of the world’s most modern production facilities

2004
- A solar module is sent in to the stratosphere in cooperation with Esrange Space Centre (www.ssc.se/esrange)

- Sales increase with approx 30% in Scandinavia and GPV becomes the market leader in the Nordic region

2006
- The factory now reaches a capacity of 30 MW

- Sweden’s largest PhotoVoltaic system is installed at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, using GPV’s solar power modules

2008
- Borevind AB acquires 65% of GPV

- The now largest PhotoVoltaic system in Sweden was installed in March at the Emergency Command Centre in Falun

- Switchpower installed 1150m2 of GPV‘s Modules in Sweden

- The Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt visits GPV

2009
- A state of the art, highly automated, production line is installed and the production capacity is increased to approximately 45MW

2010
- Eco Supplies Europe AB acquires Gällivare PhotoVoltaic AB.