Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy (ISE) is helping French startup Holosolis, a spinoff of EIT InnoEnergy, to build a production line for both PV solar cells and modules.
The factory aims to start production in 2025 and, at full capacity, will have a production capacity of five gigawatts per year. Based on a strategic collaboration agreement signed this summer, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE will support HoloSolis in the technology selection and factory planning during the conceptual design and construction phases.
The collaboration aims to build cost-effective and efficient PV modules in Europe based on TOPCon solar cells. The production goal is to produce 10 million photovoltaic modules annually, targeting the residential and commercial PV market. The factory concept includes sustainable practices such as low-carbon production, high recyclability of products, and high social standards.
Along with establishing the new European production capacity, HoloSolis and Fraunhofer ISE will also work together on research and innovation for sustainable solar cell and module production.
“This project will contribute substantially to the annual capacity goal of 30 gigawatts by 2025 that the European Solar PV Industry Alliance ESIA has set itself,” says Dr. Ralf Preu, director of Photovoltaics at Fraunhofer ISE. “The re-establishment of sustainable PV production in the EU is one of our strategic priorities. An integrated high-volume module production is a crucial step on this road and contributes towards the European Union’s energy sovereignty.”
