+44 (0)24 7671 8970
More publications     •     Advertise with us     •     Contact us
 
Loading...
{megaLeaderboard}
{normalLeaderboard}
News Article

Midsummer solar panels are ten times better for the environment

News

CIGS solar panels made in Sweden generate nearly 90 per cent less CO2 emissions than silicon based solar panels made in China

A new life cycle assessment (LCA) shows that the CIGS solar panels made by Swedish solar energy technology firm Midsummer, made in Sweden, generate nearly 90 per cent less CO2 emissions than silicon based solar panels made in China, and only one per cent of the greenhouse gases that European coal power emits.

”For a conscious consumer of renewable energy, whether private or commercial, it is instrumental to look at the entire life cycle, i.e. the total climate effect of the product including material choice, manufacturing, transports, operations etc,” said Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer. ”And of course to choose an energy source with minimal carbon footprint. Here Midsummer’s thin film solar panels are completely superior, thanks to our unique technology.”

There are multiple reasons for this. Midsummer’s flexible CIGS solar panels do not contain any heavy glass or aluminium components. This greatly reduces material consumption. The light absorbing CIGS layer is also extremely thin. Therefore, the production process is fast and with a low energy consumption. At its Swedish factory, Midsummer only uses renewable energy.

Midsummer’s technology allows for production of the electricity right where it is consumed, which is an important ‘green’ aspect. Midsummer’s solar roofs are nearly invisible and are installed on tin roofs, shingles and large factory roofs (they can also completely replace shingles or tin). The electricity is produced directly on top of the building where it is consumed.

For Swedish installations, production is local. Midsummer manufactures its solar panels in its own facilities in Järfälla just outside Stockholm. The company is looking at establishing additional factories across Europe which would mean shorter transports and a higher ratio of renewable energy for production than the silicon panels made in China, often with coal based electricity. Local production also means local employment and tax revenues etc.

The LCA report (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA, of Midsummer’s Lightweight CIGS Solar Panels) was carried out by environment consulting company Miljögiraff AB at Midsummer’s request. The study follows ISO14041 standard and has been verified by a third party. The objective was to calculate the combined carbon footprint from 1kWh of electricity generated by Midsummer’s thin and discrete solar panels using CIGS solar cells from a life cycle perspective.

Schletter Group: 48 MWp Project in Italy
ENCAVIS Acquires Two More Solar Parks In Spain and Surpasses The Planned Expansion
Maximum profitability with KACO advanced technology for complex solar roofs
Enviromena wins contract to re-power three major solar farms ahead of the summer energy peak
New Swansea University Collaboration to Support Sustainable, Locally Manufactured Solar PV
New Swansea University Collaboration to Support Sustainable, Locally Manufactured Solar PV
Next2Sun Builds World's Largest Vertical PV Plant at Frankfurt Airport
DNV Publishes Bankability Study of Solcast Satellite Irradiance Data
Steel company SSAB switches to fossil-free energy in Italy with PV solution from Solnet
janom Investments enters the Croatian solar energy industry by investing in a 30 MW power plant project
Trina Solar Vertex S+ 505W n-type dual-glass modules enter mass production
BayWa r.e. and 3E sign partnership agreement for monitoring & analytics of global PV portfolio
Accelerating Spain's Energy Transformation: LONGi to supply Naturgy with 1 million modules in new deal
NTR announces corporate PPA with Almac Group to buy energy from Murley Wind Farm, Northern Ireland
Oxford PV sets new solar panel efficiency world record
Order Intake for the Construction of Wind Turbines in Turkey
Trilantic Europe acquires stake in AEROCOMPACT Group
Octopus Energy makes solar farm debut in Germany
Austria-based KOGA Energy, a solar EPC solutions provider, has kicked off.
Exus to acquire 625MW New Mexico solar portfolio
Capcora Accompanies SUSI Partners In Raising Senior Debt For a Polish Renewables Portfolio
Qualitas Energy acquires a 96 MW wind energy project pipeline in Germany
Nordex Group receives orders from the UK for approx. 150 MW
Trina Solar gains EPD certification from UL Solutions and EPDItaly for industry leading modules
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London instals innovative solar tech to decarbonise heating
Efficiency First: The Road to Electrification
SCHLETTER Supplies Austria's Largest PV Roof System
E.ON partners with UK renewable heat innovator Naked Energy
Sonnedix signs innovative EUR500 million loan facility to finance construction of its renewable electricity pipeline in Europe and UK
Construction begins on Glennmont and Ørsted’s Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm in Germany
ABB shores up reliable power supply at Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar plant
Sonnedix starts construction of 300MW UK solar PV portfolio

×
Search the news archive

To close this popup you can press escape or click the close icon.
Logo
×
Logo
×
Register - Step 1

You may choose to subscribe to the Solar + Power Magazine, the Solar + Power Newsletter, or both. You may also request additional information if required, before submitting your application.


Please subscribe me to:

 

You chose the industry type of "Other"

Please enter the industry that you work in:
Please enter the industry that you work in: