Meyer Burger closes plants in Bitterfeld and Hohenstein: 500 jobs lost!

Meyer Burger closes plants in Bitterfeld and Hohenstein: 500 jobs lost!

The news about the closure of the Meyer Burger plants in Bitterfeld-Wolfen and Hohenstein-Ernstthal has caused excitement in the region. On September 1, 2025, it was announced that the solar cell manufacturer, which comes from Switzerland, has now finally ceased operations. The insolvency administrators of Meyer Burger reported a failed search for investors, which sadly bore no fruit. Around 500 employees have lost their jobs as a result of this development, although a small processing team remains on site. Around 300 people recently worked at the Bitterfeld location, who now have to look to an uncertain future.

The sad decision came after the company filed for bankruptcy in May 2025 and stopped production in the USA. Since the same month, the employees at the Bitterfeld location have been on short-time work. The Saxony-Anhalt Ministry of Economics had already announced in June that a closure of the Bitterfeld location was unavoidable. Now, after the official announcement, the disappointment is noticeable both among employees and in the regional economy. “We sincerely regret that there are no further employment opportunities for many of you,” said Reinhard Klose, one of the insolvency administrators, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
MDR reports that despite ongoing efforts, discussions with potential investors were unsuccessful.

The impact on the solar industry

The situation at Meyer Burger shows how fragile the situation is in the solar industry, not only in Germany but throughout Europe. In a market burdened by rising operational costs and falling margins, many companies are fighting for survival. At the same time, the annual increase in storage capacity is maintained at 6.2 GWp, which shows that the industry is not completely at rock bottom, but rather is on a fine line between progress and regression. A cumulative total of 19.1 GWh of storage capacity is currently installed – a glimmer of hope in dark times for the industry.
BSW Solar provides the figures and market trends that further fuel the discussion about the future prospects of the solar industry.

Meyer Burger's failure to compete in the market could also affect other companies in the industry. The challenge that some industry representatives describe could prove to be a “chain of bankruptcies” that not only cost jobs but also threaten progress in a key energy transition technology.

The future of employees

The affected employees in Bitterfeld and Hohenstein-Ernstthal can only hope that they are not completely left behind in the search for new opportunities. While some have already had to go on short-time work, further layoffs are dependent on approval from the relevant authorities. The scale of the layoffs is alarming and could impact the entire region. At a time when the energy transition is becoming increasingly important, it is particularly tragic that such developments endanger stable jobs within the industry.

The next steps of the insolvency administrators and the ongoing dialogue with potential investors will be crucial. To date, however, it remains uncertain whether there is still a way to save the locations or at least offer the employees a perspective.

The region is faced with the challenge of having to visibly reinvent itself, while the solar industry, once full of hope, now fears for its credibility and future. At a time when the world is looking for sustainable solutions, the events surrounding Meyer Burger show that the journey is anything but easy.