Nuon has opened the first test plant for the production of flexible solar cells in the Netherlands. The plant is developing a production method that will enable solar cells to be produced ‘on the roll’. This more efficient production process would make these flexible solar cells cheaper.
The solar cells can be produced on rolls as they are light and flexible. This production method has the advantage not only that mass production is possible but also that the application of solar cells in existing materials or products is simpler, Nuon said in a release.
Nuon says the flexible solar cells are easier to incorporate in, for example, roof covering, building facades or even sunblinds or baffle boards.
Nuon subsidiary Helianthos is developing a technology to produce solar cells on rolls. Initially the laminate was produced in a width of 30 cm. The first steps are now being taken in the test plant to produce a laminate with a width of 120 cm.
Once the development process has been successfully completed, Nuon will start the construction of a production plant for Nuon Helianthos. The production plant is expected to be able to manufacture approximately 1 million m2 of solar cell laminate annually.
Earlier this month, regulators approved the sale of Nuon to Swedish energy company Vattenfall (VTT.DE).
Loading...