Having worked previously with global leaders in the PV industry Hansen is enthusiastic about joining ITS. "Northern Europe represents an exciting opportunity for Innotech Solar. The Nordic governments have long believed in promoting renewable energy and whilst historically these regions have not been regarded as major PV markets, this has changed."
"A main advantage of our European solar modules is that a specially treated glass surface guarantees high energy yields even in countries with shallow angles of solar radiation. Customers have recorded yields of up to eight percent higher with ITS modules when testing them against a variety of other module types. In light of this and our local production in Sweden, we are now marketing our modules with increased vigor in Northern Europe," explains Dr. Thomas Hillig, Vice President Module Sales & Marketing at Innotech Solar.
The glass surface of ITS' European solar modules is processed in such a way that it reflects less sunlight, resulting in 2.5 percent more light reaching the solar cells. Research conducted at the Technical University of Denmark in Lyngby has shown that the difference in output between modules featuring special glass and those made with standard glass is even greater in low light conditions. What's more, the treated glass boasts a self-cleaning surface structure, as condensation collects on the surface like a film and washes away any particles of dirt.
"We have discovered that buyers in the Northern European markets place particular value on high quality and products that do not have a negative effect on the environment. The fact that we produce our solar modules in Europe using a highly environmentally friendly process gives us a clear competitive advantage," adds Hillig. The special production process reduces the carbon footprint of ITS modules by 74 percent in comparison with modules using conventional cells.
Alongside ITS modules' innovative production process, the use of renewable energy at the company's manufacturing sites in Sweden and Germany, as well as the short transport routes, improve the company's carbon footprint. A multitude of tests by independent experts, such as the Fraunhofer Institute, Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin and PV Lab, have demonstrated the high performance, durability and positive environmental impact of Innotech Solar's European solar modules.
In addition to focusing more heavily on Scandinavian countries and Great Britain, the company is also looking to increase sales in the Benelux countries.