OREANDA-NEWS. The Migros Aare Cooperative has ordered the installation of Switzerland’s first bifacial, high-efficiency and integrated solar system, utilizing the latest generation Heterojunction (HJT) solar cell coating and SWCT solar cell connection technologies from Meyer Burger. With this strategically important pioneer project, Meyer Burger and Migros Aare are making a significant contribution to their declared aim of actively driving forward the energy transition in Switzerland. At the same time, the project underlines the significant role that renewable energy technologies and the current photovoltaic technologies will play in the successful implementation of Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050.

Meyer Burger Technology Ltd (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) today announced the successful completion of a project agreement with the Migros Aare Cooperative for the planning, manufacture and installation of an integrated, high-performance photovoltaic system. Meyer Burger will produce over 2,200 high efficiency photovoltaic modules with a total surface area of almost 2,500 m2 using Meyer Burger high-tech equipment. Together with local installation partners, the system will be assembled on the roof of the Migros operations center in Sch?nb?hl (Canton of Berne), Switzerland. The resulting solar power plant will generate up to around 900 MWh of clean solar energy per year – far more than for example the Gurten Park’s total power consumption, including the annual open-air music festival. The Migros Aare Cooperative will use the renewable solar electricity directly on the premises. “We are very pleased to implement this purely ‘Swiss project’ together with Meyer Burger as a part of our photovoltaic strategy. We take a keen interest in the technological developments of the solar industry and consider it important to directly support this extremely innovative project,” explains Heinz R?edi, Head of Expansion, Planning and Development at Migros Aare.

The heart of the photovoltaic system is made up of 500 high-efficiency and high-performance bifacial Heterojunction (HJT) / SmartWire Connection Technology (SWCT) modules. This latest generation of solar modules produces electricity both on the front and on the back of the modules through direct and indirect (reflection) solar radiation. Compared with conventional PV systems, the intelligent combination of Heterojunction Technology – which is extremely efficient even at high temperatures – and bifacial modules, together with customized module installation, enables considerably increased energy yields.

Peter Pauli, CEO of Meyer Burger, emphasizes: “For Meyer Burger, this is another strategically important milestone in our efforts to actively drive forward photovoltaics as an available, reliable, renewable, efficient and industry-proven energy technology and to promote technological change. We are proud that we are also making a major contribution to the implementation of the energy transition in Switzerland and to a sustainable energy policy for future generations. We are especially pleased to be realizing this innovative project with a far-sighted partner such as Migros Aare, which is making targeted efforts to implement the energy transition.”

Meyer Burger successfully supplies the Swiss market with cost-effective solar systems for building integration as well as with innovative hybrid solutions for building services engineering. Its advanced and highly efficient technologies, such as Heterojunction and SmartWire Connection Technology, are being incorporated in its tried and tested product range and will be available for Swiss customers as of mid-2016.