One of the largest photovoltaic plant in Europe is about to be powered up and it carries Italian Photovoltaic holding MegaGroup's signature. The agreement allows the production in Kozarska Dubica (Bosnia) of mono and policrystalline silicon ingots and wafers for photovoltaic cells. With an investment of 12,5 million Euros, the new plant will be active by the end of 2016 and will have a nameplate capacity of 120 MW/year.

The second phase of the project foresees a further production capacity increase and the establishment of other PV Value Chain parts, with an overall investment of 35 million Euros.

The agreement for Kozarska-Dubica-based production of mono and policrystalline silicon ingots and wafers for photovoltaic cells was signed a few days ago by MegaGroup, a Italian photovoltaic Holding currently owning MegaCell, MegaEngineering and MegaCivic and soon a new Company fully dedicated to the Bosnian project.

Franco Traverso, MegaGroup's President and Italian photovoltaic pioneer, has made it official today after last Friday's sign with the Bosnian local administrative authority arranging the purchase of a 20.000 sq.m. area in Kozarska Dubica's industrial district, 'Lipova Greda', where the new production plant will be built in 2016.

With an investment of 12,5 million Euros, the plant in the first phase will have 120 MW annual capacity.

90 workers will be employed after being specifically trained to work in a high technology sector.

"We aim to start the production of mono and policrystalline silicon ingots and wafers by the end of 2016 in order to provide the raw materials for cells and modules production. This is the first step towards the creation of a world photovoltaic hub", Franco Traverso said.

The production will be mainly allocated to MegaCell, which produces high-efficiency bifacial solar cells and modules in Padua, and also to the Joint Ventures plants that the Group has been establishing abroad for the production of bifacial cells and modules and innovative bifacial solar systems.

The later phase of the project foresees a further production capacity increase and establishment of other PV Value Chain parts, with an overall investment of 35 million Euros allowing the creation of one of the largest European photovoltaic plant, carrying the Italian flag.

MegaGroup chose the Bosnian industrial site, already equipped with infrastructure, because of its favorable conditions for energy-intensive production, such as ingots and wafers one. As a matter of fact, the new plant will benefit from energy costs among the lowest in the world, high-skilled and low-cost workforce and the support from the Government. Besides, the plant will be powered with green hydroelectric energy.

"For MegaGroup it is a big step forward expansion in emerging countries" again, Traverso said. "Our target is forming a network of partner companies who will benefit from production and commercial internal synergies and could be strongly competitive on a global level. Self-production of the PV raw materials in Bosnia is a key element of a strategic planning that aims to make high-performance PV energy even more competitive with the fossil fuels energy".

Thanks to its strategic Value Chain vertical integration, from upstream to downstream, Italian MegaGroup will strengthen its international position in the leading photovoltaic world.