Verditek opens in Italy its first solar PV module factory
Clean technology company Verditek PLC, headquartered in London, UK, announced the official opening of its first solar PV module factory in Lainate, Italy. Verditek Solar Italy (VSI) operates the site and production of its lightweight solar panel modules which is bringing to market.
The chairman RH Lord David Willetts FRS and board members have inspected the facility and observed the manufacture of PV modules across a range of sizes and formats. The production facility is close to major transport corridors and near to the Milan-Malpensa airport in the industrial and design heartland of Italy.
The 1800m2 facility includes a largely automated state-of-the-art production line that has benefited from full refurbishment and testing during the preceding months.
Verditek Solar Italy will provide employment opportunities requiring production and administration skills in Lainate and has hired operations staff to begin ramp up to full production capacity in the coming months. In anticipation, VSI has hired sales staff in March covering the EU, Africa and Asia, and has been attending solar exhibitions and pursuing leads to fill the order book.
This has resulted in securing its first material distribution agreement comprising a multi-year take or pay contract that begins with a minimum of 1 MW in the first year and increases to 3 MW in the second year. The first 200 kW will be shipped within 16 weeks and serve to establish the factory. Further orders are under negotiation and the directors are confident the pipeline will deliver firm commitments in the near future.
The company has ambitious plans to expand and enhance the performance of the plant to bring our product competitively to market and has identified opportunities to increase production capacity cost effectively, as our pipeline continues to grow.
Constructed for high efficiency and durability, Verditek Solar Italy’s production line utilises nanowire technology to enhance electrical conductivity and safety. Thanks to their polymer construction, the PV panels are robust and semi-flexible but without the heavy aluminium frame and glass sheets required in conventional modules. The final product is approximately 3mm thick, easy to install, and weighs in around 2kg/m2 compared with 22-28 kg/m2 for conventional panels. Since we use the same high quality 160µm monocrystalline cells employed in the very best PV modules, we deliver more watts per weight.
Alfredo De Mutiis, General Manager, Verditek Solar Italy said:
“The new factory is a real pleasure to operate and has plenty of space to expand production capacity. This will allow us to deliver our strategy providing a more sustainable means of generating renewable energy to clients.”
Geoff Nesbitt, CEO of Verditek PLC said:
“I am proud of the progress made in Lainate and the realization of a first-class solar manufacturing facility in Europe. The sales team is converting the leads we have in the funnel into orders, with plenty of ground yet to cover. The tremendous growth predicted in renewable energy is just beginning and I am convinced we are entering the market at the right time to catch this surge. Our technology accesses clients who would otherwise have to sit this transformation of energy resourcing out. We will continue to position ourselves to deliver product where it is needed, with the lowest carbon footprint possible.”
Source: Press Release by Verditek.
