VESS Group has opened a solar module factory in Kardzhali, investing approximately €15 million in a facility with annual production capacity of 1 GW. The plant is operated by VESS Modules, the group’s photovoltaic manufacturing business, and is backed by the Clever Synergy Investment Fund. The project has created about 200 jobs.
Production at the Kardzhali site uses automated TOPCon module lines. The equipment is capable of producing approximately one panel every 18 seconds. The facility is set to supply EU and international markets, with potential expansion described as raising annual capacity to 3 GW.
Automation and potential scaling to 3 GW
The Kardzhali opening provides VESS with an operating manufacturing base for solar modules. Any move to expand output to 3 GW is stated to depend on demand, financing and the company’s ability to secure orders in the competitive solar equipment market. The investment is also described as part of a broader manufacturing push that includes energy storage.
Stara Zagora vanadium redox flow battery stack project
In July, construction began on a vanadium redox flow battery stack plant in Stara Zagora. The project is developed with Japan’s NanoFrontier. It is intended to be part of an industrial complex covering batteries, photovoltaic manufacturing, metal structures, logistics and recycling.
The flow batteries are aimed at long-duration storage applications. Use cases cited include renewable plants, industry, networks and data centres.
