Solar energy

In March 2011, the roadmap ‘Zon op Nederland’ was presented, written by companies operating in the solar power industry and by research institutes, including ECN. The roadmap maps the main technologies in the field of solar energy, the largest players, the competitive relations and promising products and market segments. The conclusion is drawn that the Netherlands can play a prominent global role if it joins its forces effectively.

High Tech Campus

This is done in the Solliance consortium: a collaboration of research institutes in the field of thin film solar cells that maintains close relations with the industry. In well-equipped laboratories at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, 250 researchers, including researchers of ECN, are working together to stay one step ahead of the competition.

“Noord-Brabant expects the knowledge import to yield at least 15,000 additional jobs in 2020.”

Spark

Solliance was launched in 2011, partly thanks to a substantial investment of the Province of Noord-Brabant, which aims to enhance the innovative powers of the regional industry and incentivise entrepreneurship. Former Provincial Executive Member Lily Jacobs praises the active role of ECN in the establishment of Solliance. ‘ECN has played a pioneering role in this process. Apparently the audience caught on, because I was soon visited by some very enthusiastic directors of institutes.’

Order

In the field of solar energy, ECN collaborates with parties from the entire value chain: silicon manufacturers, solar cell manufacturers and system builders. ECN aims to help sustainable energy technology realise the widest possible application, both in the Netherlands and abroad. That will also lead to new assignments for Dutch trade and industry. For example, the Dutch company Tempress obtained the largest order in its history because ECN technology is being used in Chinese solar cells.