OPES Solar Mobility has inaugurated Europe’s first production facility dedicated to flexible, vehicle-integrated solar panels in Zwenkau, near Leipzig, Germany.
The 12,000-square-meter plant will create 120 jobs and manufacture modules for commercial and recreational vehicles, supplying electrical systems in both diesel and electric platforms to extend driving range and improve battery longevity.
Following ramp-up, OPES plans to deliver modules to more than 15 partners and customers across Europe, Africa, and South America for integration into camper vans, refrigerated trailers, city buses, and truck cabins.
Developed over several years with the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, the panels are produced using proprietary patents and custom machinery.
They employ a matrix architecture that connects cells in a brick-like pattern, enabling many cells to remain active when parts of a module are shaded by roof structures, dirt, or passing shadows, mitigating energy losses common in conventional designs.
“Our innovative, robust matrix architecture for vehicle-based solar modules ensures reliable performance in real-world conditions and generates significantly more electricity than conventional technologies,” said Robert Händel, Chief Executive of OPES Solar Mobility.
“OPES is industrializing a new technology and already generating strong international demand. The modules are highly resistant to vibrations and mechanical stress typical in vehicles, making them suitable for integration into commercial vehicles worldwide,” he added.
Industry partners highlighted the operational benefits. “At MAN Truck & Bus CZ, we see great potential in vehicle-integrated photovoltaics as a way to further improve the efficiency and sustainability of our vehicles,” said Pavel Kuch of MAN Truck & Bus CZ.
He further added, “By generating part of their own energy, buses and trucks can reduce operating costs, extend driving range, and enhance battery performance. In cooperation with OPES Mobility, we want to bring this innovative technology onto the road.”
Martin Heinrich of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems estimated the European technical potential for commercial-vehicle solar at around 70 gigawatts, roughly equivalent to six million trucks and 30 million vans, with an average per-vehicle CO₂ reduction potential of 10% to 15%.
Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer welcomed the investment: “The opening of this facility in Zwenkau provides another example of Saxony’s strength as a hub for industry and technology. Here, scientific excellence, entrepreneurial courage, and highly skilled professionals come together to deliver forward-looking solutions.”
Kretschmer further noted, “Technology ventures like OPES Solar Mobility are essential for creating jobs, retaining value in the region, and providing answers to the global challenges of our time.”
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