” We are very pleased to finally be a part of the Russian market for building integrated solar panels. We also look forward to source produced panels for the European market where the demand is higher than Midsummer’s current production capacity”, said Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer AB.

This is the first order within the agreement between Midsummer and the Russian government-owned technology giant Rusnano Group that aims to develop the non-silicon flexible photovoltaics market in Russia and the Eurasian Union.

The production line is manufactured in Midsummer’s facility in Järfälla and will be installed in a factory in Saransk, about 630 km east of Moscow. The factory will be run by Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials Center of the Republic of Mordovia and their partner Solartek which promotes solutions for integrated solar roofs.

“The launch of this plant targets the demand for integrated solar roofs in the commercial sector. We promote unique products – various roofing materials with integrated solar cells. Midsummer’s technology is perfectly suited for this. With tech transfer and localization of flexible solar cells manufacturing in Saransk we expect to scale the business of solar roofs in Russia and abroad”, said Dmitry Krakhin, CEO of Solartek and former CEO of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials Center of the Republic of Mordovia.      

The Russian solar energy market
The Russian Federation has set out to increase and diversify its use of renewables, particularly for power generation. Under current plans and policies, renewables would reach nearly 5% of total final energy consumption by 2030. However, according to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), accelerated deployment could boost Russia’s renewable energy share to more than 11% in the same timeframe. Achieving this potential calls for cumulative investments of USD 300 billion in renewable energy up to 2030. *

*REmap 2030, Renewable Energy Prospects for the Russian Federation