Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses €39 million regional investment aid to ersol Thin Film GmbH for production of thin-film solar modules in Erfurt, Germany

The European Commission authorised, under EC Treaty state aid rules, €39.72 million of regional investment aid, which the German authorities intend to grant to ersol Thin Film GmbH for the production of thin-film solar modules in Erfurt, Germany. The project involves investments of €371 million and is expected to create 461 direct new jobs in the region. The Commission found the measure to be compatible with the requirements of the EU Regional Aid Guidelines 2007-2013, and in particular with its rules on large investment projects, as ersol Thin Film would not gain significant new market shares and the investment takes place in a fast growing market, the photovoltaic sector. Therefore the positive impact of the investment on regional development can be considered to outweigh the potential distortions of competition.