Convinced that European players have a key role to play in the global solar market, ASCA, an ARMOR GROUP company, wishes to contribute actively to the development of the European photovoltaic industry, at a time when the challenge of energy sovereignty has become central. Supported by the France Relance plan in 2020, ASCA is concretizing its investments with the installation of new photovoltaic industrial equipment and is pursuing its partnership strategy.
“The President of the United States Joe Biden has just announced the lifting of customs duties on photovoltaic panels from Southeast Asia. The race for energy sovereignty is on, but must it necessarily be at the expense of the local solar sector? Contrary to the American model, it is urgent for Europe to support a local and European production sector which would take into account all the existing solar innovations and those under development, in particular through regulations adapted to breakthrough innovations. such as ASCA, whose production creates jobs in France and Germany. It is this wealth of solutions that should enable Europe to succeed in its energy transition” comments Hubert de Boisredon, Chairman and CEO of ARMOR GROUP.
ASCA, world leader in organic photovoltaics (OPV), announces the installation in June 2022 of new industrial equipment. This investment aims to optimize and automate the late-stage customization of the OPV module production process. ASCA is thus integrating a new laser machine into its existing industrial line at its Chevrolière site, near Nantes, in order to increase the production capacity of made-to-measure OPV films, while gaining speed. The machines will be commissioned in the second half of 2022.
In addition to this equipment, ASCA designs and installs software to automate the production of tailor-made OPV modules called "free-form" in order to simplify the electrical design of the modules based on the designs of its customers. In December 2020, ASCA benefited from an allocation within the framework of the Plan France Relance in order to finance its innovation strategy for the development of solar technology.
"Recognized for our concrete contribution to the climate emergency as evidenced by our various distinctions - German Sustainability Award 2020, Innovation Radar of the European Commission and the support of France Relance -, we develop personalized solutions in order to maximize the potential of solar . At ASCA, we coat our full-width films on our La Chevrolière site near Nantes, and structure them directly locally to meet the needs of our customers as closely as possible. With our production capacity of 1 million m2 of solar films per year, this investment allows us to strengthen our offer of tailor-made solar solutions for large-scale projects” comments Ralph Paetzold, Managing Director of ASCA.
Alongside its recent investments, the manufacturer is also pursuing a real partnership strategy aimed at uniting solar players around the development of a strong and competitive sector. With the largest portfolio of patents relating to printed OPV modules, ASCA wishes to promote competition within the market and reduce barriers to entry, in order to directly support its growth. ASCA thus enters into a licensing agreement with Dracula Technologies, a French start-up designer of a technology intended to supply energy to connected objects thanks to the OPV. “Further discussions are ongoing and we will ensure an agreement is reached with all other players in the printed OPV industry in the coming months. This is essential to support the growth of the organic photovoltaic market,” concludes Nicolas Vannieuwenhuyse, Key Account Manager at ASCA.
