11 January 2016

Solar Frontier's 2.3MW installation on Netherlands warehouses surpasses energy generation target by 6%

Tokyo-based Solar Frontier – the largest manufacturer of CIS (copper indium selenium) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules – says that its recently completed 2.3MW project in The Netherlands (constructed in collaboration with solar energy companies KiesZon and Ikaros Solar) has surpassed its July-November energy generation target by 6%.

The project, in the Dutch municipalities of Veghel and Zwijndrecht, consists of two rooftop installations on warehouses belonging to thyssenkrupp Materials Nederlands (a wholesaler of carbon and stainless-steel products). Using 30 power inverters and 13,472 CIS modules in total, this is reckoned to be one of the largest solar energy projects in The Netherlands to date.

KiesZon, owner of the solar power plants for the next 15 years, selected Solar Frontier's modules for their ability to produce a higher energy yield in real-world conditions compared to more commonly used crystalline silicon modules. Ikaros Solar provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. North American distributor of production materials, thyssenkrupp Material, leased out the rooftops of its warehouses and will procure the energy generated by both systems to reduce its electricity costs and help advance its environmental initiatives.

For the project, Solar Frontier started shipping its CIS modules at the end of last May. Ikaros Solar began installing the systems in June, and both rooftop systems were connected to the grid in July.

Solar Frontier says that the reliability of its CIS modules in high-ammonia environments was also a deciding factor in their selection for the project. Considering that thyssenkrupp Material's 32,000ft2 warehouse in Veghel is located near a seagull breeding ground, solar system owners are subsequently burdened with bird droppings impacting the performance of their modules. Solar Frontier says that its CIS modules are certified for resistance to environments with high ammonia content and, as their output indicates, are continuing to perform well in this environment.

"Ikaros Solar selected Solar Frontier's CIS modules for their proven high energy yields, specifically in our climate, as has been seen in other projects like the IKEA store in Zwolle," says Ikaros Solar's CEO Yves Devis.  

"The Netherlands is one of the most promising markets for solar energy in Europe," comments Wolfgang Lange, managing director of Solar Frontier Europe GmbH of Munich, Germany.

Tags: Solar Frontier CIS thin-film PV modules

Visit: www.solar-frontier.com