Saudi Arabian chemicals and plastics group Sabic has been producing plastic granulates in Genk, Belgium, since 2009. In collaboration with Dutch module manufacturer Solarge, it has also developed a polymer composite to replace glass in solar modules. The result: panels that weigh just a quarter of a conventional glass-foil module.
Focus on recycling
This makes the panels ideal for roofs with low load-bearing capacity. But Solarge modules offer more than just low weight. The manufacturer, based in Weert in the Dutch province of Limburg, has also prioritised a low carbon footprint and full recyclability. The modules are designed to be completely dismantled at the end of their service life – including the encapsulation films and solar cells.
2.3 megawatts installed
The modules entered series production last year. Now, energy company Engie has installed a large solar plant using Solarge panels on the roof of Sabic in Genk. On behalf of Engie, Sun4Business fitted a total of 4,600 modules, delivering a combined output of 2.3 megawatts.
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The new solar plant will generate around 2,000 megawatt hours of clean electricity annually for at least 25 years. Sabic will use nearly all of it on site for plastics production, cutting CO₂ emissions by around 800 tonnes each year.
Sustainability is an opportunity for European manufacturers
It is the first megawatt-scale plant to use modules from Solarge. “With this technology, we are demonstrating that European manufacturers can make a difference when they focus on innovation and sustainability,” says Jan Vesseur, Managing Director of Solarge. “Solarge's ambition is to promote the global energy transition with sustainable, PFAS-free solar modules that are also recyclable at the end of their useful life. To this end, we are working to expand our capacities in the Netherlands and the United States.”
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Solarge’s modules are primarily designed for the commercial and industrial rooftop market – especially for buildings with limited load-bearing capacity. “This opens up huge additional potential for installing solar panels on rooftops,” explains Jan Vesseur.
Modules tested in-house
Engie chose Solarge’s recyclable, lightweight solar modules after extensive testing at its own R&D centre, Laborelec. “They offer a smart solution for roofs with limited load capacity, which is typical for large factory buildings,” says Vincent Verbeke, Managing Director of Engie Belgium. He adds that Engie plans to continue using these modules in Belgium, with a goal of installing solar systems totalling 300 megawatts by 2030. (su/hcn)
