The Netherlands-based lightweight solar PV modules manufacturer Solarge International is expanding its geographic footprint to launch a production facility in Africa's Nigeria. The 1 GW factory is planned to come online in 2025.
To realize the project, it has secured the support of the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) and African Green Infrastructure Investment Bank (AfGIIB). InfraCorp is an infrastructure development vehicle managed by an independent infrastructure fund manager. The trio signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the COP28.
Preparation for the manufacturing project is scheduled to begin in Q1/2024 for commercial operations to begin in 2025, announced the company that's already operating a production facility in the Weert region of the Netherlands using polypropylene compounds supplied by the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).
Solarge claims its patented technology can reduce carbon emissions by 20% to 80% compared to conventional solutions. The panels are 100% circular and unbreakable, according to the manufacturer.
The Dutch company is part of the 9-member SolarNL consortium that won €412 million government funding from the Netherlands' €4 billion National Growth Fund round 3 to develop circular solar panels to bring down the country's reliance on imported products (see Dutch Push For Solar Panel Manufacturing).
"Committed to Nigeria's growth, this cooperation aims to create jobs, foster economic diversification, and support local development initiatives," stated the company on its social media channel.
The country is already home to a 21 MW solar module production facility operated by Nigeria's National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) that laid the foundation of a solar cell plant in March 2023 (see 1st Solar Cell Production Factory In West Africa).
In September 2023, Auxano Solar announced the commissioning of a 100 MW solar module production line in Nigeria.