Midsummer AB, a Swedish pioneer in thin-film solar technology, revealed on Monday its decision to establish a new mega-factory in the municipality of Flen, situated in south-east Sweden, signaling a significant leap forward in Europe's solar manufacturing landscape.
Backed by approximately EUR 32 million (USD 34.3 million) in financial support from the European Union (EU), the state-of-the-art facility is poised to become a key hub for the production of thin-film copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells tailored for the European market. The initiative forms a pivotal component of Project DAWN, which secured a grant from the EU Innovation Fund, contingent upon the establishment of the CIGS cells factory in Sweden, thus fortifying Europe's photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing capabilities.
Pending EU approval of the DAWN project and site selection, Midsummer anticipates assuming control of the premises in Flen by September. Production activities are slated to commence in 2026, with the factory reaching its maximum annual production capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) by 2028.
Upon full operationalization, the Flen facility is expected to provide employment opportunities for approximately 200 individuals, underlining Midsummer's commitment to fostering economic growth and job creation in the region.
Commenting on the selection of Flen as the factory's host municipality, Eric Jaremalm, CEO of Midsummer, remarked, “We had a number of locations in Sweden to choose from, but Flen fulfilled all our requirements regarding e.g. suitable premises, reliable electricity supply and overall an established local infrastructure that is favorable for this type of production. […] Flen is also geographically well located for the transport of input materials and finished products across Sweden and all of Europe.”
