A new industrial partnership powered by defense-related technology transfer says Colombia could become a strategic hub for the production of lightweight copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS).
Midsummer is building the factory in collaboration with the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab. The installation will have an initial annual capacity of 15 MW.
Following the announcement by the Colombian government last week of the country’s first national company dedicated to the production of solar panels, established with the technical and financial cooperation of the Swedish government, Swedish solar manufacturer Midsummer said it has started negotiations with Swedish company Saab “for the next phase, aimed at expanding production capacity, of building a solar cell factory in Colombia.”
The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2024 to explore potential industrial collaboration for export markets, focusing on solar energy production and technology, a core area of Midsummer’s expertise.
Colombia was identified as an important market for several reasons. Saab recently signed a contract to supply the Colombian Aerospace Forces with 17 Gripen fighter jets as part of the modernization of the country’s air force. The deal includes a compensation program with social components and technology transfer requirements.
The MOU between Saab and Midsummer to develop a solar cell factory in Colombia falls under that framework. Midsummer said in its announcement that the initiative is “linked to the defense and security operations that Saab carries out and to Colombia’s policies of industrial cooperation and technology transfer.”
The company added that it received its first machine order from Saab in May, worth more than SEK 143 million (€15.1 million), for equipment for the construction of “a solar cell factory with an annual production capacity of 15 MW.”
Saab also has an option to scale up the 15 MW facility into a large-scale production plant, which could be expanded in phases over the coming years, according to the statement.
Midsummer says it already has a presence in Colombia through a sales company with an initial three employees. The company cites strong commercial interest in the region for its products, driven by high electricity prices, strong solar radiation and the prevalence of vulnerable flat roofs, which the company says are well suited to its lightweight solutions.
In Midsummer’s second-quarter interim report, the company highlighted what it sees as “great potential” for the expansion of rooftop solar in Colombia, especially in the low-load segment, which it considers its target market. “Retail prices from major national electricity companies are up to three times higher than estimated electricity costs for Midsummer facilities,” the company said.
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