- The Holosolis consortium will build a gigafactory of photovoltaic modules in Moselle
- It will be the largest plant in Europe, with an annual production of 5 GW
- This plant will allow the EU to accelerate its energy transition, while reducing its dependence on China (which produces 80% of photovoltaic modules)
Today, solar energy is one of the preferred sources of renewable energy in the context of the energy transition. And France will have a leading role since it was chosen by the company Holosolis for the establishment of its gigafactory for the manufacture of photovoltaic modules. It is indeed in Moselle that Holosolis will build its giant factory, intended to improve the sovereignty of the European Union. When the factory is built, it will also be the largest in Europe. Indeed, it will exceed the capacity of the current largest plant in Europe by nearly 70%.
According to Les Echos, it is an investment of 710 million euros. And 1,700 job creations are planned. Jobs that will mainly benefit the Grand Est region as well as Sarreguemines, thanks to a partnership with Pôle Emploi. In terms of production, the company forecasts 5 GW per year, or around ten million photovoltaic modules per year, which corresponds to the energy needs of one million European households. This production will begin in 2025.
“We will manufacture the most energy-efficient modules, incorporating the latest photovoltaic technologies, with the lowest carbon footprint and the highest social standards. The effects of scale and the automation of the lines will allow a competitive cost to compete with the world giants of the industry. Our modules will address three main markets: residential roofing, industrial and commercial roofing and agrivoltaic”said Jan Jacob Boom-Wichers, CEO of Holosolis.
A question of sovereignty for Europe
As a reminder, Holosolis is a consortium based in France of EIT InnoEnergy (co-financed by the European Union), IDEC Group and TSE. “Holosolis is part of the European dynamic of reindustrialization of the photovoltaic sector. The international consultation conducted by the Holosolis team, which awarded the first gigafactory site to Sarreguemines in France, is a first illustration of this dimension. EIT InnoEnergy is proud to support a new player like Holosolis, which will undoubtedly be the first industrial reference of the European Solar Industrial Alliance that we lead”says Diego Pavía, CEO of EIT InnoEnergy.
In addition, this single plant, with its 5 GW capacity, will contribute 15% towards reaching the European Solar Industrial Alliance’s objective of having an annual production capacity of 30 GW by 2025. Europe will be thus able to produce more photovoltaic modules to meet its needs whereas currently the market is dominated by China, with a world share of 80%, against 3% for Europe.
As for the choice of France (while other countries, including Germany, were candidates), this is explained by the availability of a qualified workforce, the quality of the infrastructures, but also the carbon-free energy. The land, covering an area of 50 hectares, also played a role in this choice. Interviewed by BFMTV, Jan Jacob Boom-Wichers, explains that this site, in Sarreguemines, makes it possible to start the project in the shortest possible time. “We identified that France had all the necessary assets and the Sarreguemines site in particular”did he declare.
Choose France: Holosolis announces an investment of 700 million euros
“We identified that France had all the assets it needed and the Sarreguemines site in particular”
? Jan Jacob Boom-Wichers, PDG d’Holosolis pic.twitter.com/gcKa3gn5f7
— BFM Business (@bfmbusiness) May 15, 2023
