Reden Solar has launched a 200 MW solar module production line at its facility in Roquefort, located in Lot-et-Garonne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France.
The new line replaces a 15-year-old 65 MW line that had become outdated. The upgraded facility incorporates modern features such as 166 mm half-cells and 10 to 16 busbar connection points, replacing the older 72-cell modules with five busbars.
The company invested €4m in the new production line, which was designed by Spanish manufacturer Mondragon.
The modular equipment includes repurposed machinery sourced from Eastern countries, particularly for cell welding. The line can produce up to 300,000 panels annually with a team of 10 employees.
The factory produces mono-passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) panels with efficiencies exceeding 21.7%.
The low-carbon-certified panels are available in four ranges, from 405 W to 545 W, catering to diverse applications such as power plants, shade houses, and agrivoltaic systems.
The company is also considering adopting tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) technology in the future, as the new production line is adaptable to emerging technologies.
While cells are sourced from Asia, Reden Solar uses European components where possible, including French and Belgian copper, Austrian glass, and German EVA.
The company prioritises quality by working closely with suppliers to define standards and conduct on-site checks, particularly for critical components like diodes.
Despite Chinese solar panels being significantly cheaper, Reden Solar believes its higher production costs – adding 15% to 25% to the total project price – are manageable.
Producing its own panels allows the company to maintain control over the PV value chain, reducing dependency on large manufacturers and strengthening its negotiating position with suppliers.
