Montreal: Solargise Canada Inc, a unit of UK-based Solargise Ltd, announced July 11 that it is looking to invest $2.3 billion in the manufacture of new generation plastic-free solar panels in Quebec, preferably in the Montreal area. The company is also examining three sites in Ontario.
The Sand to Power project will be set up in two phases. Phase one involves setting up ingot, wafer, photovoltaic cell, plastic-free photovoltaic module and glass plants, and phase two involves setting up the 11N purity semiconductor grade polysilicon plant and MgSi (magnesium silicate) plant. The project once completed is to create 1,000 direct jobs.
Solargise's “high efficiency, ultra-low degradation” solar panels will be distinguished by a two-layer glass sealing technology on photovoltaic cells, minimizing the efficiency losses. For the first time, the company says, solar panels will not contain any plastic.
If the project is implemented in Quebec, Solargise intends to move its research facilities from Europe to greater Montreal, where about fifteen to twenty foreign researchers would settle. In addition, the company intends to sign collaboration agreements with Montreal universities.
Solargise is already assured of financing US$ 878 million for the project, of which US$ 260 million comes from its own sources. The remaining financial package is be completed “soon.”
Solargise's strategic advisors in this project are Magil Construction, National Public Relations, AON Risk Consultants Inc, Norton Rose Fulbright and PWC. Stakeholders thus far in Quebec include Montreal International, Chamber of Commerce East of Montreal, and Industrial Association East of Montreal.
Four conditions must be fulfilled for the realization of this project: access to power of 550 MW, the availability of a land of 200 acres (about nine million square feet), the proximity of a railway and a port, as well as the presence of research universities.
Solargise Canada Inc. is currently assessing sites located in East of Montreal that meet the Company's criteria. Solargise will collaborate with the authorities to finalize the location for this project, keeping in mind the project's requirements and the government's own requirements.
Solargise is developing gigawatt-scale solar parks in India in conjunction with GE, in which the state-of-the-art plastic-free solar panels to be made in Canada are to be installed.