Citing “the severe deterioration in market conditions in the PV industry”, Schott Solar AG is to stop producing crystalline photovoltaics (c-Si PV) altogether this year, the German firm has announced.

“Thin-film manufacturing in Jena will not be affected,” it said in a statement, while its concentrated solar power (CSP) division will also continue.

“Customers can rest assured that we will continue to meet our guarantee obligations as we have in the past,” the company added. “To this end, Schoot Solar AG will be retaining an after-sales service team in the area of PV.”

The decision to halt c-Si PV manufacturing is likely to result in job losses of almost 900 across plants in Germany, the Czech Republic and New Mexico.