Carbon
The Gigafactory
The first fully integrated Gigafactory will include a silicon ingot, foundry, wafer cutting facilities, a complex of clean rooms for cell manufacturing, as well as module assembly facilities and logistics warehouses on about 60 hectares of industrial facilities at the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille in Fos-sur-Mer (France).
This will create more than 3,000 jobs by 2025 and around 10,000 jobs by 2030.
Carbon
Value Chain
At the heart of CARBON’s industrial and commercial project is the integration of the entire value chain of the photovoltaic industry from upstream to downstream: ingots, bricks, wafers, cells and panels. The key to this entire project is securing of the supply of polysilicon, a strategic input for many industries. From the outset, the project has taken into account the challenge of circularity and the need for product recyclability.
CARBON aims to become the go-to source for a global market. This includes solar power plant developers and installers, distributors and wholesalers of photovoltaic components and equipment, as well as assemblers of panels and integrated modules (BIPV, VIPV) who buy cells directly and cell manufacturers who buy silicon wafers directly.
0Silicon
1Ingot
2Brick
3Wafer
4Cell
5Module
Supply Chain
Secure supplies
The supply chain is at the heart of the CARBON project. Raw materials and energy are fundamental resources that account for 55% to 70% of the cost price of photovoltaic modules. Controlling supply costs and volumes is therefore crucial. Negotiation and agile market navigation will be an essential part of this.
Technology & Innovation
R&D&I
Research and development as well as innovation are key to the CARBON project. Our company intends to devote 3% of its turnover to R&D&I for consistent technological improvement, with a particular focus on efficiency and environmental impact.
Technology & Innovation
N-Type
CARBON has selected N-Type wafers to develop high-efficiency cell technologies. While P-Type wafers still dominate the market, N-Type allows already a faster and more dynamic evolution of cell technologies.
Technology & Innovation
TOPCon
TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) is the fastest growing high-efficiency solar cell technology and is expected to become the standard in the coming years. The main solar manufacturers are making the switch from PERC cells (the current standard) to TOPCon technology. This transition requires limited modifications of the industrial processes, yet TOPCon technology leads to a better temperature coefficient, almost no or few LID and LeTID as well as a better bifaciality factor.
Technology & Innovation
IBC
From the beginning, CARBON will offer cells relying on IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact) technology. They offer a higher surface efficiency (+Wp/m²), better performance at low irradiance, and greater resistance to hot spots along with improved aesthetics. They are particularly suitable for integration into vehicles (VIPV) and buildings (BIPV).
