Dutch knowledge institution TNO sees plenty of opportunities for the Dutch and European manufacturing industry by bringing back solar panel production to Europe.
However, a lot is needed to enable large-scale manufacturing of solar cells and modules in Europe. High efficiencies must be obtained, production costs must be reduced further, and the concept of mass customization for integration must become a reality, with circularity as an important precondition.
Achieving these ambitions requires far-reaching collaboration between knowledge institutions, companies, and governments across the entire value chain in Europe, according to TNO.
In the Netherlands, the Noord-Brabant region is already working hard to realize an innovative solar panel manufacturing industry. The Brabant Development Company (BOM), knowledge institutions and companies are developing concepts, supported by the province of Noord-Brabant, to realize factories with the latest technology in this area.
They are building further on ambitious innovation programs, and this stands alongside industrious plans such as the major consortium of Dutch solar companies SolarNL. The first goal is constructing a 2 GW factory by 2027-2028, that will deploy new solar technologies.
New Generation of Solar Panels
TNO helps companies in the manufacturing industry develop and manufacture innovative products, improve existing products or processes, and enter new markets. A new generation of solar modules, to which TNO is currently making major contributions, will make the difference in the next decade.
Simple, low-cost fixed panels will make way for new types of solar panels that are almost or entirely invisible and can be incorporated into all kinds of materials in any desired size and shape, making them easy to integrate into roofs, facades, windows and cars. There will then potentially be a lot more surface area available for generating energy.
Mass customization is the future of integrated solar power. Creating a PV ecosystem to manufacture these high-end products in Europe, with the Netherlands as an important supplier of knowledge, equipment, and semi-finished products, but also of the final products, will make it possible to tap a broad market. This will change Europe from being an importer to having opportunities for exporting.
Large-scale manufacturing of cells and modules in the Netherlands is possible, says TNO. “Our strength lies in creating innovative concepts that companies can further industrialize and then market. We have a unique knowledge position as regards combining solar cells into a solar panel in any desired shape, size, or color and incorporating it into construction elements.”
Expanding Production in Europe
The European Commission has identified the solar energy sector as a strategic value chain. Solar PV makes an important contribution to achieving climate goals. TNO: “It is therefore important that we are not dependent on certain countries or regions.”
“Producing close to home avoids the shipping of solar panels across oceans, which reduces pollution and transport costs. The energy mix in Europe is also cleaner than in many other regions of the world, which further improves the carbon footprint of solar panels.”
“Moreover, we have everything here: high-level knowledge, innovative strength in innovation, and cutting-edge companies, which will enable us to become a major player again in the production of solar cells and modules.”
The first steps have already been taken with the launch of the European Solar Initiative, supported by the European Commission. The motto is “accelerate and scale up” and bring back manufacturing to Europe. Companies in various European countries are already expanding the production of solar cells and solar panels, and new companies are starting up production.
Efficiencies Beyond 40 Percent
“The Netherlands has long been a leading developer of innovative technologies in the field of solar energy,” says TNO. “We’ve pioneered industrially scalable new concept developments. Circularity, aesthetics and safety are prerequisites here.”
“We have unique lab facilities to develop and test deposition technologies such as atomic layer and pulsed laser deposition, as well as low-pressure and higher-temperature chemical deposition. These technologies enable ultra-thin functional layers to be applied to cells to optimize performance.”
“Layers are being developed for higher conversion efficiency, but also for protection to improve reliability. In this way, we support companies in the manufacturing industry to develop and manufacture innovative products, to improve existing products or processes, and to enter new markets.”
“At the same time, the Netherlands and Europe need to optimize the performance of solar cells and modules. TNO is strongly committed to the combination of thin-film perovskite and crystalline silicon, called a tandem solar cell. We continually succeed in pushing the boundaries and increasing the maximum power output. This now achieves efficiencies of over 30 percent on a small scale.”
Fully Recyclable
In addition to tandems of perovskite combined with silicon cells, it’s also possible to make tandems of perovskite solar cells. The individual perovskite solar cells then differ in composition and, therefore, in color sensitivity. This enables a better use of the energy from the solar spectrum.
“In the long term, tandems comprising stacks of multiple perovskite cells will enable conversion efficiencies beyond 40 percent. We’re currently working with Dutch universities and companies on new generations of tandem solar cells, both a stack of two cells and a stack of multiple cells. All kinds of new functional thin layers are being developed to further optimize performance.”
“Together with industrial partners, we’re developing a concept for solar panels in which all components can ultimately be recycled. In the EU alone, currently around 4,000 tons of solar panels are not completely recycled annually. We’ll solve this problem with fully recyclable solar panels. In short, we as a country can contribute a lot to creating a flourishing solar energy industry in Europe,” concludes TNO.
