NexWafe GmbH has secured €10 million in a private placement to advance its EpiNex™ solar wafer technology, supported by prominent investors including Fraunhofer and Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures.

Target Information

NexWafe GmbH is a Freiburg-based company specializing in the development and manufacturing of highly efficient monocrystalline silicon wafers. The company has successfully raised €10 million through a private placement, and it aims to use these funds to advance the industrialization of its innovative EpiNex™ solar wafer technology and initiate pilot production. NexWafe's cutting-edge production method leverages inline epitaxy to create monocrystalline silicon wafers that boast higher efficiency while significantly reducing waste in the manufacturing process.

The EpiNex™ wafers are designed to enhance compatibility with traditional solar cell and module production. Notably, compared to conventional wafers, NexWafe's production process decreases carbon emissions by about 70% and substantially lowers production costs. The proprietary technique involves growing a crystalline silicon layer on a seed wafer before detaching it, leading to wafers that have optimal thickness and superior material properties. The company has established a pilot production facility with a capacity of 5 MW in Freiburg, Germany, with qualification deliveries planned for 2021.

Industry Overview

The solar energy industry in Germany is a cornerstone of the country's efforts to transition towards renewable energy. Germany has become a leading market for solar technologies, driven by both government incentives and a growing acceptance of sustai