European consortium develops concept for gigawatt-scale PV factory using new generation of technology

GERMANY: In order to regenerate and maintain the competitiveness of the European manufacturing industry in future photovoltaics technology, a consortium - comprising leading European research institutes and companies - is working on a concept for a multi-gigawatt factory. The aim is to promote photovoltaics as a key enabling technology at European level.

European manufacturers of solar cells and modules are finding it extremely difficult to survive in the current industry crisis. Nevertheless, solar research institutes, plant manufacturers and photovoltaic materials manufacturers in Europe remain at the forefront of technological advances.

A lack of powerful commercial collaborators in Europe, however, is increasingly jeopardizing their independence and the viability of their sites. The X-GWp consortium is now responding to this challenge with a new concept.

Photovoltaics occupies a key role in a sustainable energy mix. It has seen a steep drop in prices in recent times, and in many markets the cost of generating power from PV is already competitive with fossil fuel generation. The global photovoltaics market is set to expand dramatically in coming years.

In view of this, the European consortium wishes to maintain Europe's strong position in this cutting-edge field by making the transition to a new generation of technology and thus exploiting the economies of scale made possible by gigawatt-scale production, which is now the norm in Asia. One key aspect of the new initiative is that the participation of leading European research institutes in the field will guarantee continuous innovation.

The project is intended to help reinstate the competitiveness of the European photovoltaics industry at a time when global demand is beginning to pick up new speed. It is estimated that the world market will reach 45 gigawatts in 2014, with predictions of 100 gigawatts or more for 2020. As a flagship European project, its impact is intended to reach beyond local production and should demonstrate that the technologies developed in Europe can also be manufactured here if suitable approaches are taken.

The next objective will be to implement the new technology worldwide, particularly in countries where high levels of insolation already make the use of solar power very attractive. Photovoltaics has the potential to assume major economic importance for Europe, both in replacing energy imports and as an export product.

The core members of the consortium include the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE (GER), the National Solar Energy Institute (INES) (FRA) and the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology CSEM (SUI), as well as several European manufacturing companies.