Genk (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Sabic launched the world’s largest solar installation in Genk, featuring 4,600 lightweight, recyclable solar panels. This project, developed with Solarge and installed by ENGIE, powers about 700 households and reduces CO2 emissions by 800 tons annually.
In Genk on 17th October, Sabic launched a solar installation with about 4,600 solar panels, making it the largest in the world. These new panels are lightweight, fully recyclable, and do not contain glass or much aluminum, making them half as heavy as traditional panels and reducing their CO2 footprint by 25%.
Can SABIC’s lightweight solar panels revolutionize energy use in Genk?
According to Bert Goffings from Sabic, many industrial buildings can’t hold the weight of traditional glass solar panels, and with new regulations coming, companies will need to install solar panels on their roofs. He highlighted that the new lightweight solar panels provide a great solution. Genk’s mayor, Wim Dries, also noted that these panels are a game-changer for local businesses, as they can help power around 700 families.
The world’s largest solar installation is located in Limburg, where the production of these panels also takes place. Bert Goffings stated that their Genk factory creates special plastics for the panels, using innovative materials developed in their Dutch branch. The final product is made by the Dutch company Solarge. ENGIE, one of Belgium’s largest utility companies, designed and installed the solar setup, which will generate around 2,000 megawatt hours of renewable electricity annually, enough to power approximately 700 households.
