Efficient solar panel facility makes production more competitive

The challenge

For the past decade, the solar panel production electronics industry has increasingly moved out of Europe, becoming heavily concentrated in China. A new generation solar panel manufacturing facility in the Netherlands is reversing this trend. It has developed a production method for highly efficient next-generation solar panels with very high energy yield. The panels are based on the latest heterojunction technology which increases efficiency and power output to the highest levels. A further innovation is the manufacture of cells and modules at a single site.

The solution

Resource sustainability a focus for integrated facility

The manufacturer has partnered with Royal HaskoningDHV to ensure the facility is optimised from every perspective. In the initial stages, masterplanning, feasibility studies and business case analyses enabled informed decisions on location, layout and utilities to be made. Then, with the concept design finalised, all necessary permits were secured. Finetuning continued throughout the detailed design and engineering process to optimise capex and opex with 10-20%. As a result, the number of people needed for operational and support roles was reduced, and the logistics flow from raw materials to the finished product was streamlined.

“The technology and innovation, together with a highly efficient factory, ensures that production in Europe is competitive,” says Ad Schrijvers, Project Manager at Royal HaskoningDHV. “It’s more sustainable too. Chemicals, gases and utilities required in the manufacturing process have been reduced.”

European production is set for dramatic scale up

This first factory aims for 300MWp production. With finance secured, the pressure is on to get the site into production within a period of just 12 months. To prepare, contracts were put in place and it was ensured that foundations could be made on short notice. Material sourcing was also started to avoid delays caused by long delivery times. Once this test site has been successfully realised, a dramatic scale up is planned in other European locations.

Ad Schrijvers continues. “The panels produced generate around 50% more power than current models and require less chemicals and gases during manufacturing. People and the planet will benefit from this development too".

The result

A highly efficient factory that is optimised from every perspective. It’s more sustainable too. Chemicals, gases and utilities required in the manufacturing process have been reduced.