Midsummer and Saab have signed an MoU for the development of a 200 MW solar cell production factory
The duo plans to establish this thin-film solar cell mega factory in Thailand
Midsummer will provide its proprietary technology for the factory in which it will own a small share
Swedish thin film solar cell producer Midsummer has teamed up with its compatriot aerospace and defense company Saab AB to explore the development of a 200 MW cell production factory in Thailand.
The duo has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to investigate a long-term partnership in the Southeast Asian country.
They intend to establish a long-term, comprehensive framework to explore and identify potential activities for industrial cooperation for applications in Thailand and other export markets.
In a statement released, Midsummer said they have jointly identified possible opportunities for the 200 MW mega-factory using its proprietary technology and production equipment. Midsummer will be responsible for designing the proposed fab. It will sell all the production equipment to the factory and own a small part of the Thai production company.
The project is ‘connected’ with Saab’s defense and security business, according to the statement which does not elaborate further on this point.
“We are thrilled to sign this MoU with Saab with the intention to deliver a turnkey solar cell factory to Thailand and later possibly also to other markets,” said Midsummer CEO, Eric Jaremalm. “This type of project is a testament to our much sought-after green technology and production processes on a global scale, and could add a very valuable business avenue to our present offerings.”
Concrete timelines and associated activities are to be determined through dialogue with the Thai authorities, it added.
Thailand is among the Southeast Asian nations whose solar cell production capacity is likely to expand from 50 GW now to 68 GW by 2027/2030, according to a Sinovoltaics report. The region is also expected to expand its module production capacity from 78.8 GW now to 92 GW (see Southeast Asia’s Solar Cell Production To Jump Up To 68 GW By 2030).
A producer of copper, indium, gallium and selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells, Midsummer signed an OEM agreement with Chinese thin-film solar panel producer Kaisheng New Energy Technology earlier this year, with an eye on the European rooftop solar market (see Swedish Solar Manufacturer Collaborates With Chinese OEM).
A winner of the European Commission’s 3rd Innovation Fund, Midsummer is building a 200 MW cell and module fab at Flen in Sweden. It is also building a 50 MW thin-film solar cell factory in Italy’s Bari region.
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