Solitek, a unit of ophthalmic lens maker Global BOD, has unveiled plans to build a solar module factory in southern Italy.
“The factory will be located in Benevento, in the region of Campania, and will have an annual capacity of 600 MW,” a company spokesperson told pv magazine, noting that the initial investment will reach €50 million ($53.4 million).
The Lithuanian solar module manufacturer said the facility will produce solar panels for applications in agrivoltaics.
“Italy's favorable climate for agriculture provides a suitable environment for agro-installations, a significant advantage compared to Northern Europe, where the window for agro-installation usage is relatively short,” said Solitek. “Operating a manufacturing plant in Southern Europe will also help Solitek avoid fluctuations in production capacity during winter when solar panels in Northern Europe cannot be used.”
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The factory is expected to begin manufacturing in the second quarter of 2024. At an unspecified later stage, it will also make 1 GWh of residential battery capacity per year. “Throughout the gradual development of the new manufacturing facility and after its creation, Solitek plans to generate up to 300 jobs, revitalize a low-employment area, and attract further international and local investments.”
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The company currently operates a 180 MW module factory in Lithuania. It recently unveiled a 40-cell solar panel for agrivoltaic applications with power conversion efficiencies of 12.6%. The module can operate with a maximum system voltage of 1,500 V. Solitek said it used the panels in a 1.5 MW agrivoltaic rooftop project in Malaysia.
The Italian government is currently supporting agrivoltaics via a €1.1 billion program, as part of its €220 billion, post-pandemic recovery plan.
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