Hanwha Qcells to supply solar modules to Hyundai Motor

[Courtesy of Hanwha Qcells]

Hanwha Qcells said on Monday it recently became a supplier of photovoltaic cells to be installed in local self-consumption solar generation systems run by Hyundai Motors Co.

In a statement, the solar-cell manufacturer said the supply of its 20-megawatt solar modules Q.PEAK DUO G11 for Hyundai Motors will begin in the first half of 2024.

The automaker will install the cells on the rooftops of its Korean plants, parking lots, and other available sites to source renewable energy from the cells.

Hanwha Qcells said the installations will generate around 27 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy annually. Rooftop solar power generation is particularly efficient, as the power generated directly from the rooftop helps reduce energy losses during transmission and distribution.

Industry observers said recent global emphasis on carbon neutrality could be one of the driving forces behind the solar panel installation. Hyundai Motor decided earlier that it would join a global corporate renewable energy initiative called 100% renewable energy, or RE100, which aims to use renewable resources for all energy.

Hanwha Qcells recognizes substantial opportunities in the self-consumption solar systems amid the global push towards carbon neutrality. A recent study by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed that 41.3 percent of 300 South Korean manufacturers reported having their decision-making affected, either directly or indirectly, by global shifts toward carbon neutrality. A total of 427 companies across the world are committed to the RE100 as of February 2024, which suggests significant potential demand for self-consumption solar systems at an international level.