OPES Solar Mobility opens vehicle solar panel factory in Germany
Technology company opened 12,000 square metre facility in Zwenkau producing flexible solar panels for commercial and recreational vehicles
OPES Solar Mobility has opened Europe’s first production facility for flexible solar panels designed for vehicle integration in Zwenkau near Leipzig, Germany. The technology company will create 120 jobs at the 12,000 square metre facility, which produces solar panels for commercial and recreational vehicles.
The solar panels supply power to electrical systems in both diesel and electric vehicles, extending driving range and increasing battery lifespan. After production ramp-up, modules will be delivered to over 15 partners and customers across Europe, Africa and South America for integration into camper vans, refrigerated trailers, city buses and truck cabins.
OPES Solar Mobility developed the modules over several years with research partners including the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. The company uses proprietary patents and custom-built machinery for production. The modules employ a matrix architecture that interconnects solar cells in a brick-like pattern, allowing many cells to remain active when parts of the module are shaded by roof structures, shadows or dirt. This design reduces energy losses that minor shading typically causes in conventional systems.
“Our innovative, robust matrix architecture for vehicle-based solar modules ensures reliable performance in real-world conditions and generates significantly more electricity than conventional technologies,” Robert Händel, Chief Executive of OPES Solar Mobility, said in a statement. “OPES is industrialising a new technology and already generating strong international demand. The modules are highly resistant to vibrations and mechanical stress typical in vehicles, making them suitable for integration into commercial vehicles worldwide.”
“At MAN Truck & Bus CZ, we see great potential in vehicle-integrated photovoltaics as a way to further improve the efficiency and sustainability of our vehicles,” Pavel Kuch from MAN Truck & Bus CZ added. “By generating part of their own energy, buses and trucks can reduce operating costs, extend driving range and enhance battery performance. In cooperation with OPES Mobility, we want to bring this innovative technology onto the road.”
Martin Heinrich of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems said: “We estimate the technical potential of solar modules for commercial vehicles in the EU at around 70 gigawatts—equivalent to ca. six million trucks and 30 million vans. The average CO₂ reduction potential per vehicle is 10% to 15%.”
Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, said: “The opening of this facility in Zwenkau provides another example of Saxony’s strength as a hub for industry and technology. Here, scientific excellence, entrepreneurial courage and highly skilled professionals come together to deliver forward-looking solutions. Technology ventures like OPES Solar Mobility are essential for creating jobs, retaining value in the region and providing answers to the global challenges of our time.”
SOURCE: OPES Solar Mobility