As part of a new series on solar manufacturing facilities around the world, pv magazine profiles Sunmaxx, which is advancing the industrialization of PVT technology from what it says is the world’s largest PVT manufacturing facility in Germany.
German manufacturer Sunmaxx aims to make photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) technology a scalable industrial solution with what it describes as the world’s largest and most advanced mass-production facility for PVT modules.
Located in Ottendorf-Okrilla, Saxony, northeast of Dresden, the factory operates entirely on certified renewable electricity and has an annual production capacity of 120,000 modules, with the potential to increase output by up to fivefold. The facility represents one of the industry’s most ambitious efforts to move PVT technology beyond a niche market and into broader applications for heating and building decarbonization.
From experimental technology to industrial production
PVT technology combines photovoltaic electricity generation with thermal energy capture in a single module. Although long regarded as a promising approach, its manufacturing complexity and relatively high costs have limited commercial deployment.
