ASN Bank of the Netherlands will lend €4.4 million to support solar module maker Solarge's plans to develop what is being touted as the 1st lightweight solar panel factory in the country's Limburg region.
The fab is scheduled to open in early 2023 and by the end of next year an initial 100,000 panels are likely to roll off the production line with a total capacity of around 45 MW, which the bank says is enough to power 15,000 households for 20 years.
By 2025, Solarge targets to expand the annual capacity in Weert to 600,000 solar panels.
"The majority of solar panels on the market are (still) too heavy to install on the roofs of commercial buildings. It is precisely in those places that large-scale solar energy can be generated," said Account Manager Financing with ASN Bank, Sonja van der Eijk. "With Solarge's solution – lightweight, standard solar panels – the number of installations can be expanded considerably. This fits in seamlessly with ASN Bank's ambition to accelerate the energy transition."
Solarge's solar panels are easy to install for variety of applications like factories, distribution centers and stables, because it uses fibre-reinforced polymers for its lightweight modules that weigh less than half of conventional panels, according to the company. The company claims 50% faster installation and 20-year limited linear power output warranty along with 10-year limited product warranty for its modules. The panels also release up to 75% less carbon during the manufacturing process, it claims
From 2023 onward, the manufacturer wants to use bio-based raw materials to produce its panels, eventually also using recycled plastics that do not use chemical PFAs to ensure sustainable solar products.
Solarge will source its production equipment from Spain's Mondragon Assembly that's developed a new proprietary technique for its 100 MW line (see Solarge's 100 MW Line To Be Online By 2022-End).