Press Release: State aid: Commission endorses €73 million aid to Intico Solar for production of thin film solar modules in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

The European Commission endorsed, under EC Treaty state aid rules, €73 million of aid which the German authorities intend to grant to Intico Solar for the production of thin film solar modules in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. The project involved a total investment of €585 million and is expected to create more than 1000 direct and indirect jobs. The Commission found the measure to be compatible with the requirements of the Regional Aid Guidelines 2007-2013 and in particular with the rules on large investment projects, because Intico Solar would gain neither a significant new market share nor a significant increase in production capacity in a declining market. Therefore the positive impact of the investment on regional development can be considered to outweigh any potential distortions of competition.