Another boost for vertically integrated solar PV production in Europe after Italian glass and solar PV lamination producer Satinal Spa announced €40 million investment to expand the annual production capacity of Europe's 'only' production hub of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyolefin elastomer (POE) and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) encapsulating films for the PV industry by 12 GW.
Satinal produces solar PV encapsulants through its subsidiary Strato Solar which will operate the new factory in Italy's Apulia region. Here, Strato produces EVA encapsulants introduced this year as carbon free and ISCC+ certified. Starting from 2024, the company's annual production capacity will be scaled up to 2 GW with 3 production lines of EVA, POE and TPO.
Under the 4-year business growth plan divided into 2 stages, by 2027 it will expand further with another 10 GW annually. The production line will include carbon free version as well.
The business plan also includes an upgrading of the company's R&D lab where it works in collaboration with leading European research centres and universities, it added.
While announcements related to solar cell and module production in Europe are coming in steadily, the development of local production for other aspects of the solar value chain should be heartening for the industry.
Recently, Norwegian solar wafer manufacturer NorSun was selected for funding under the 3rd EU Innovation Fund for large scale projects to enable it to expand capacity to 3 GW (see More Wafers Made In Europe).
Currently, the official aim for the European Union (EU) is to have 30 GW annual PV manufacturing capacity by 2025, however, the European Solar PV Industry Alliance (ESIA) believes right policy support can help exceed this threshold (see ESIA On EU PV Industry Growth Potential).
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