Serbia gets first photovoltaic panel factory

Domi Eko Solar has started to manufacture photovoltaic panels in its plant near Velika Plana in central Serbia. It is the first PV panel production unit in the country.

Serbia is recording a large increase in demand for solar panels for self-consumption. Since the country adopted the legal framework early last year enabling electricity buyers to become prosumers, their number exceeded 2,700 and the installed capacity topped 37 MW. At the same time, private investments in large solar power plants are under development as is a 1 GW project implemented by the Government of Serbia.

Dragan Rajović, director and owner of the company Domi Eko Solar, told Balkan Green Energy News it would produce two types of panels – 450 W for prosumers, both citizens and businesses, and 550 W for solar power plants of larger capacity.

Italian firm Ecoprogetti has recently delivered the manufacturing equipment

“The factory’s capacity is 100 MW per year. The plan is to reach it by the middle of next year,” Rajović explained and added that the investment in production equipment is estimated at EUR 3 million.

The manufacturing equipment was delivered by Italian producer Ecoprogetti. Rajović pointed out that representatives of the TÜV SÜD accreditation body would arrive in a few days to examine the production standards and issue IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 certificates.

He stressed that the factory and photovoltaic technology are both state of the art.

Vladimir Dimitrijević, project manager at Domi Eko Solar, explained that the line is semi-automatic, with ten operators in one shift. The plan is to employ a total of 45 workers in three shifts, he revealed.

The production capacity could be easily increased to 200 MW or 300 MW

The production capacity could be easily increased from 100 MW to 200 MW or 300 MW, Dimitrijević stressed. Domi Eko Solar plans to sell the panels in the wholesale market in Serbia and the European Union, but also to open retail stores in Serbia.

According to Rajović, the quality of the panels is the company’s top priority, especially considering that the market is flooded with various goods.

“Domi Eko Solar will guarantee the quality and compliance with leading industry standards, and the biggest advantage is that investors and customers can visit us and see how the company produces solar panels,” Rajović said.