The Israeli solar energy company Apollo Power has developed technology turning surfaces into an energy source using the sun’s rays.
It is deployed by Amazon and Volkswagen has opened a flagship factory for the mass production of solar panels, which it says is the first of its kind in the world.
The 10,000 square meter facility, which was built at an investment of $30 million is located in Yokneam’s Mevo Carmel Science and Industry Park in Israel’s north.
The automatic facility is expected to reach an annual production output of 1.5 million square meters in solar film or an annual capacity of about 190 megawatts. The latter equals the average consumption of 35,000-40,000 households.
The solar panels are made for surfaces on cars, trucks, roofs and aircraft, that cannot support the weight of glass solar panels. The size of the basic unit of the solar film is 12 square meters and weighs 3 kilograms per square meter.
Apollo says its floating solar panels produce electricity on water surfaces, and are durable to waves, making them suitable for a variety of marine vehicles and sails.
The innovative facility was built in a year and a half, utilising technology Apollo developed. CEO Oded Rosenberg said: ‘The technology of our flexible solar-film is particularly suitable for installation on light roofs and water reservoirs and the automotive market’.
The company is also collaborating with Audi to integrate flexible and lightweight solar panels into the materials that make up the roof of its electric vehicles. Apollo also has projects with Hyundai, Renault and Geely.
The solar sheet helps to extend the driving range of a car.
Apollo has installed sheets on the roof of one of Amazon’s logistics centres in France.
[Photo: Rami Zerenger/Courtesy]