Greenland intends to build a 5GW solar module factory in Spain

    Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) revealed that Spanish startup Greenland intends to build a 5GW vertically integrated Prime Solar Energy solar module factory in Spain. This research institution will provide project support as a consultant and will supervise the entire process from plant planning to joint development of advanced battery technology, including providing technical support.

    "In order to ensure the necessary international competitiveness in this highly competitive market environment, we will use the most advanced production technology to achieve complete connectivity in the spirit of Industry 4.0," the institute said. The engineering company Bosch Rexroth, a subsidiary of the German industrial group Robert Bosch, will be responsible for the specific planning and design of the plant. Thomas Fechner, Head of New Business Products at Bosch Rexroth, explained:     “Together with Greenland and Fraunhofer ISE, we will create a very innovative factory of the future in Seville, which will have complete flexibility and It is fully connected to the grid to meet the broad needs of the European solar cell market."

    Greenland plans to use the most advanced technology to produce monocrystalline silicon wafers in the M10 format for passivation of emitter back contact (PERC) solar cells. These batteries will then be made into multi-bus-interconnected half-cell or three-cell assemblies with a power of at least 540W.

    The factory is expected to be located in a free zone in the port of Seville in the southern region of Andalusia. "We are very pleased that Greenland has chosen us as the start-up technology partner," said Jochen Rentsch, head of the institute's photovoltaic production technology field. "We will also serve Greenland throughout the company's start-up and follow-up technology development process." In 2019, Fraunhofer ISE was commissioned by the German engineering association VDMA to conduct research on the competitiveness of the European photovoltaic industry and concluded that the production of solar modules in Europe is only realistic if the factory adopts mass production. Another important conclusion drawn from the study is that due to the current manufacturing cost of less than EUR 0.20/Wp, the proportion of components and sub-component transportation costs is increasing, and it is close to 10%. “Therefore, approaching the target market through production localization and establishing a local value chain are crucial to the profitability of European photovoltaic production and to get rid of imports,” said an expert at Fraunhofer ISE. “Based on fair pricing of carbon dioxide emissions, Europe can do well. Take advantage of its advantages, because self-produced photovoltaic modules [and] European power structures have a significantly lower carbon dioxide footprint compared to imports from Asia."

    Fraunhofer ISE director Andreas Bett believes that the project once again marks that European companies and investors have realized that not only is the technological leadership, but the time has come for Europe to regain its industrial dominance in the solar field.

    He pointed out, “European research centers are currently developing some of the most advanced technologies in the world, such as tandem solar cells that achieve the highest efficiency in order to reduce space and save materials, as well as production technologies that take into account circular economy and recycling and sustainable Projects. Supporting investment in these key technologies at the EU level will strengthen Europe’s leadership in key strategic technological fields.”