en.Wedoany.com Reported - German PVT module manufacturer Sunmaxx has officially commenced production at its photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module mass production factory in Ottendorf-Okrilla, Saxony, with an annual capacity of 120,000 modules. The company claims it is the world's largest and most advanced PVT module mass production facility.
The factory operates entirely on certified renewable electricity and can be expanded to five times its current scale. PVT technology integrates photovoltaic power generation with thermal energy collection in a single module, but its commercial deployment has historically been limited by manufacturing complexity and high costs. Sunmaxx was founded in 2021 by German engineer Wilhelm Stein with the goal of applying thermal management technologies from the automotive industry to the solar sector. After years of research, development, and testing, the company produced its first industrially manufactured PVT module at scale in late 2023, and the factory officially began production in April 2024.
Unlike conventional photovoltaic modules, Sunmaxx's PVT modules primarily serve as a heat source for ground-source heat pumps or water-glycol heat pumps, while simultaneously providing electricity and low-temperature heat. Each module can deliver up to 1200 W of thermal power, utilizing solar radiation captured by the photovoltaic surface and ambient air heat to provide a stable heat source year-round. In winter, even when ambient temperatures are near freezing, the modules can heat the source temperature to 20 °C.
According to field data released by the company, this capability enables a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) exceeding 4.5 for standalone systems (where the heat pump relies solely on PVT modules as its energy source). The core differentiator of this technology lies in its heat exchanger, which is derived from automotive applications and adheres to the entire backside of the photovoltaic laminate, enabling nearly lossless heat transfer. This active cooling reduces the operating temperature of the solar cells, increasing annual electricity generation by 5% to 10% compared to conventional photovoltaic modules, while also reducing winter icing.
The combination of power generation and heat production results in a total energy utilization rate exceeding 80% for the modules. The modules can be installed on rooftops, facades, or ground-mounted racking systems, making them suitable for single-family homes, residential buildings, district heating networks, or industrial facilities requiring process heat. The technology shows significant potential in geothermal projects, as the thermal energy collected by the modules can improve soil conditions, reducing drilling depth or the number of boreholes. The company states that in several projects it has participated in, initial drilling costs have been reduced by up to 75%.
The modules feature low hydraulic pressure drop (29 mbar), allowing up to 20 units to be connected in the same circuit. Sunmaxx's primary markets are Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The company has already supplied modules to projects in Romania, Spain, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, and is currently negotiating to expand its operations in Scandinavia, India, and Israel.
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