Manz AG, a German high-tech engineering company, showcased the advantages of its CIGSfab, a fully integrated turnkey production line for the manufacture of CIGS solar modules, at a summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The two-day Intersolar Summit Middle East 2014 concluded at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center on October 15.

Copper indium gallium selenium (CIGS) represents the currently leading solar technology that guarantees lowest production costs coupled with highest efficiency levels, said a statement.

CIGS thin-film solar technology generates electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity, it said.

The Manz CIGSfab, which can be installed in Saudi Arabia, has a production capacity scalable from 40 to 350 MW.

In addition to setting up the production line, Manz will transfer knowledge in managing the technology to derive optimum utilisation. The technology and knowledge transfer will also place long term control in Saudi Arabian hands to meet its dynamic power needs.

The potential of CIGS has been reinforced by the new efficiency world record of 21.7 per cent on cell level presented by the exclusive R&D partner of Manz, the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW).

With the world record, the gap in comparison to multi-crystalline technology has increased to 1.3 per cent, which further strengthens the attractiveness of CIGS technology.

Mohamed Alammawi, vice-president of Sales for the Middle East and North Africa, Manz, said: “Manz is committed to supporting the development of solar technology production and thus contributing to the mitigation of the global energy and climate change challenges.

“We have a keen focus on sunlight rich Saudi Arabia, which holds the potential, according to Center for Global Development, to meet 50 to 70 per cent of the global electricity demand with solar technology if it is  effectively adopted.

“As a first step, it is crucial that Saudi Arabia achieves energy security and generates its entire power requirements through renewable, and more importantly solar resources. King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-Care) has laid out an ambitious roadmap towards realising this objective.”

The Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) estimated that power generation will see SR335 billion ($89.2 billion), or 63.7 per cent of the total SR526 billion investment, while transmission will account for SR121 billion (23 per cent) and distribution SR70 billion (13.3 per cent).

The maximum power load will reach 71.940 GW by the year 2020 whereas the generating reserve will hit 15 per cent, the report said.

“Project managers are seeking a cost effective solution at a time when Saudi Arabia is expected to make significant investments in solar technology. The fast-expanding demand for electricity also requires that solar farms move into production and consumption quickly. CIGSfab delivers this advantage. References from all over the world and thus from different climate zones are proof of the reliability of the modules,” said Alammawi. - TradeArabia News Service