Unveiling the World’s Largest Circular and Lightweight Solar Installation

Genk, Belgium, October 17, 2024 – In the presence of Genk’s Mayor, Wim Dries, SABIC officially inaugurated the world’s largest solar installation made entirely of recyclable materials at its site in Genk today. The innovative solar panels, developed by Dutch manufacturer Solarge, are 100% recyclable and significantly lighter than traditional panels. ENGIE was responsible for the installation and financing.

SABIC, ENGIE, and Solarge are celebrating a world first in Genk today with the launch of this groundbreaking solar installation. ENGIE, one of Belgium’s largest utility companies, has invested in the construction of the photovoltaic system at SABIC’s production site.

The installation features 4,600 solar panels, co-developed by SABIC and Solarge and manufactured by Solarge, a young Dutch company that opened its first factory in Weert last year. These solar panels are unique because they consist of fully separable layers, allowing all components to be dismantled and reused.

Thanks to the use of innovative polymers—produced by SABIC in Genk—these panels are free of glass and contain very little aluminum, making them half the weight of traditional solar panels and reducing their carbon footprint by 25%.

The solar installation was designed, financed, and installed by ENGIE Sun4Business, ENGIE’s Belgian subsidiary that helps companies reduce their carbon emissions through solar energy. The installation will produce approximately 2,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually, equivalent to the average yearly consumption of nearly 700 households. The electricity generated will be used almost entirely by the factory, helping SABIC reduce its CO2 emissions by 800 tons per year for at least 25 years.

Wim Dries, Mayor of Genk, said, “In Genk, we are strongly committed to renewable energy and are taking various initiatives to promote solar energy in our city. We encourage every investment, both for private individuals and businesses. This project by SABIC is truly unique. I am proud that these innovative solar panels are installed on a rooftop in Genk. It’s a win-win for the company and the entire city: sustainable energy is being generated, and we all benefit from the reduced CO2 emissions.”

Lada Kurelec, General Manager of Polymers Technology & Innovation at SABIC, stated, “This achievement is a great example of bringing together SABIC’s differentiated expertise in material development in a value chain collaboration with other leaders in their field. This project embodies two key sustainability drivers for SABIC: innovating for material circularity and striving for carbon neutrality. It also reinforces SABIC’s commitment to driving the energy transition towards renewable energy through both material applications and reducing the carbon footprint of production.”

Vincent Verbeke, CEO of ENGIE Belgium, added, “ENGIE closely follows the latest developments in renewable energy to offer our customers the best available technologies for reducing their carbon emissions. Our R&D center, Laborelec, identified these circular, lightweight solar panels as the best in their class. They provide a smart solution for roofs with limited load-bearing capacity, typical for large industrial buildings. ENGIE is ready to roll out this technology further to customers across Belgium as part of our goal to have 300 MW of solar installations on businesses by 2030.”

Jan Vesseur, CEO of Solarge, stated, “We are demonstrating that European manufacturers can make a difference by focusing on innovation and sustainability. Solarge aims to accelerate the global energy transition with sustainable, PFAS-free solar panels that can be recycled at the end of their life cycle. To achieve this, we are expanding our capacity in both the Netherlands and the United States. Our target market is the commercial and industrial sector, particularly roofs with weight limitations. This approach unlocks a vast additional potential for rooftop solar installations for owners and users. Furthermore, we also help alleviate the strain on the energy grid, which is now overloaded in many areas.”

The installation in figures:

• Number of solar panels: 4,599
• Area: 13,600 m²
• Weight: Less than 7 kg per m²
• Total peak power: 2.3 MW
• Electricity production: 2,000 MWh per year
• CO2 savings: -800 tons CO2eq per year