Swedish Manufacturer Zeroes In On Solar PV Production Site

• Midsummer says it will develop its 200 MW solar cell and module production fab at Flen in Sweden 
• With a safe electricity supply, Flen as a location works for Midsummer to help it supply its finished products across Sweden and Europe 
• The factory will start commercial operations in 2026 under EU's DAWN project and be fully ramped up in 2028 

Sweden's Midsummer will build its new 200 MW factory to produce thin-film solar cells and modules in the country's Flen region of Sörmland. The mega factory will cater to the European market, according to the manufacturer. 

At the factory, Midsummer says it will produce thin, light, flexible CIGS solar cells with a low climate footprint, using its proprietary all-in-one thin film solar cell coating unit DUO. 

It will roll out lightweight flexible CIGS solar panels to be installed on previously inaccessible buildings, as these can be glued onto the roofs, even those with low load-bearing capacity.  

The 200 MW factory project will be developed under the European Union (EU) project christened DAWN, which is expected to start commercial operations in 2026 as the 1st of its kind CIGS thin-film solar cell and solar panel production factory in Sweden. Once fully operational in 2028, it will employ around 200 people. 

DAWN will scale up the current pilot line in Sweden that the Swedish manufacturer says it has been running since 2019. 

Midsummer won €32 million ($34 million) in funding for the 200 MW factory from the European Commission's 3rd Innovation Fund call for large-scale projects in July 2023 (see New Thin Film Module Factory Planned In Europe). 

As a location, Flen is well located for the transport of its input materials and finished products across Sweden and all of Europe. Midsummer says safe electricity supply is another reason for the choice of location. 

The Chairman of the Municipal Board in the Municipality of Flen, which owns the property, Ann-Charlotte Munter said, "We are pleased to have attracted what will be Europe's largest factory for the manufacture of thin film solar cells. The investment will put Flen on the map in one area – renewable energy. This is completely in line with the strategic plan for the municipality and this will be one of the municipality's largest workplaces." 

In October 2023, Midsummer said it plans to cut down around 50 full-time jobs in Sweden to secure resources for its upcoming Italian operations where it is building a 50 MW solar fab (see Sweden's Midsummer To Lay Off Employees).