Midsummer expands into customer end-market with BIPV metal sheet solar roof

Midsummer AB of Järfälla, near Stockholm, Sweden – a provider of turnkey production lines as well as flexible, lightweight copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar panels for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) – has launched its new energy-producing metal sheet roof ‘Midsummer solar roofs’. Compared with previously mainly selling production equipment for thin-film solar panels, this signals a broader effort to expand into the end market for solar panels for various roofs, facades, vehicles etc through in-house production and via contract manufacturers.

To meet increasing demand from mainly the US market, Midsummer is rapidly expanding its production capacity for its DUO thin-film flexible CIGS solar cell manufacturing system. The firm has decided to also directly address the end market, both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C), for solar panels suitable for different types of roofs, facades, vehicles, landfills etc in urban areas. To support this expansion, Midsummer is looking into issuing Green Bonds worth up to SEK500m (€47.5m; $53.4m).

The firm’s new business model includes in-house production of solar panels for the end market and the establishment of a network of contract manufacturers in addition to its existing production of manufacturing equipment.

A first step in Midsummer’s new strategy and product offering is ‘Midsummer solar roofs’, a standing seam metal roof that is integrated with the firm’s thin-film solar panels and with high energy efficiency. The roofs are delivered pre-installed with solar panels, and installation is as simple as for any standing seam metal roof without solar cells. To make it yet simpler for customers, Midsummer offers installation with turnkey contracts.

Besides building-integrated solar roofs, Midsummer’s panels are suitable for a range of other roofs – corrugated roofs, membrane roofs, shingles etc – and also facades, vehicles, landfills, tents etc. The light, thin and flexible solar panels can be walked upon (like any other metal roof) and the weight does not differ significantly from a standard metal roof (nor does the appearance or the price).

Midsummer solar roofs have an expected lifetime of 25 years with a guarantee of 15 years for the roof, a five-year warranty for the solar panels and a guarantee that the roof delivers 90% of the installed peak power after ten years and 80% of the installed peak power after 25 years.

The new model solar cell roof is narrower than the previous one, which increases the installed power per square meter. The solar roofs also offer the option to connect the solar panels with each other for longer roofs, so Midsummer can supply its metal roof with integrated solar panels in lengths up to 12m.

“In recent years, solar energy and the installation of solar panels has grown rapidly across the world,” says CEO Sven Lindström. For this development to continue and for even more customers to be attracted by it, products with stylish design are required. We take the next step in this development with our refined metal roof ‘Midsummer solar roofs’,” he adds. “With the solar panels pre-integrated into the roof, this product is a no-brainer for both new buildings and for many older buildings.”

See related items:

Midsummer issuing bonds to speed growth and sales of solar energy products

Tags: CIGS Thin-film PV

Visit: www.midsummer.se