Soitec is committed to sustainable energy
At Soitec, sustainable growth and manufacturing are core concerns. Our Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) technology makes optimal use of resources at every stage of the product lifecycle: optimized design using a maximum of recyclable materials, energy payback under nine months, no need for cooling water, minimum impact on flora and fauna.
Optimized design using a maximum of recyclable materials
Concentrix™ technology uses fully recyclable materials (glass, steel, and copper) with an extremely small amount of semiconductor material. As a result, our CPV plants are almost completely recyclable—making the best possible use of our natural resources.
Energy payback under nine months
Our CPV power plants are manufactured and built for the most efficient use of energy and materials. When looking at power-plant efficiency, it is important to consider the energy used to build the plant in relation to the energy produced by the system during operation. A study by the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ENC) showed that Soitec’s CPV systems installed in sunny locations achieve energy payback in just nine months. In short, it takes less than one year of operation to produce the amount of energy used to manufacture the plant. Once energy payback has been reached, the power plant can provide environmentally-friendly solar electricity for the next 25 years or more without producing harmful emissions that could contribute to climate change.
No need for cooling water
Concentrix™ technology requires water for occasional cleaning of the solar modules — no water is needed for cooling.
Minimum impact on natural ecosystems
CPV power plants do not obscure the land on which they are installed and cause no permanent shading, resulting in minimum impact on the site’s flora and fauna. In fact, sites can continue to be used for agriculture or grazing.
In addition to enabling more efficient use of the land, this also has the advantages of improving the integration of CPV into the landscape and protecting against soil erosion and wildfires.