In 2026, the energy transition will reach a new milestone. The Netherlands’ largest circular solar installation has been completed on the roof of a SABIC production site in Bergen op Zoom, a project made possible by a collaboration between Engie, Solarge and SABIC. Featuring hundreds of lightweight thermoplastic solar panels on an industrial roof, this project demonstrates that large-scale solar energy and circularity are not mutually exclusive, but rather a logical combination. It serves as a blueprint for how industry can make its energy supply more sustainable in the coming years.
What makes this project special is not only its scale, but also the principles on which it is based. Solarge’s SOLO Ultra Low Carbon panels form the technological core of the installation. They are designed without glass, without aluminium and without PFAS, and are fully recyclable at the end of their life. This is not a symbolic step towards sustainability, but a fundamental choice in favour of a circular economy in the energy sector.
The partnership between Engie, Solarge and SABIC brings together three strong organisations, each with its own role. Engie, as an energy company and project developer, took the lead in the design and construction of the installation. Solarge supplied the innovative PV modules that set the project apart in terms of both technology and sustainability. SABIC made its industrial roof available as a site and, as a chemicals group, is itself actively involved in the development of the thermoplastic materials from which the Solarge panels are constructed.
That final connection is no coincidence. SABIC is one of the raw material partners behind the polymer composition of the SOLO panels, which adds an extra layer to the collaboration: the manufacturer of the material is also the end-user of the finished product. This kind of supply chain collaboration is precisely what the circular economy requires in practice. The project demonstrates that large-scale sustainable rooftop installations are not only technically feasible, but also commercially and strategically attractive for all parties involved.
Solarge’s SOLO Ultra Low Carbon panels have been developed using a thermoplastic polymer technology that differs fundamentally from that of conventional solar panels. Whilst standard modules consist of a glass plate, an aluminium frame and multiple layers of adhesive, Solarge panels are constructed entirely from a polymer composite. The result is a panel that is 50% lighter than its glass counterpart, without compromising on performance or lifespan.
The panels have been extensively tested for hail, snow load and wind pressure, and have an expected lifespan of more than 25 years. Thanks to their design, which uses no fragile materials, they are also unbreakable in practice – an advantage that should not be underestimated on large industrial roofs. The installation speed is 50% higher than with traditional systems, which, on a project of this scale, delivers immediate cost savings in terms of labour hours and crane work.
Every SOLO Ultra Low Carbon panel comes with its own C_passport®, a digital passport that records the panel’s entire material flow. From raw materials to production, from installation to end-of-life reuse: everything is traceable. For organisations that need to comply with ESG reporting requirements or internal sustainability targets, this provides a concrete and verifiable tool.
The installation at the SABIC site in Bergen op Zoom is the largest circular solar installation in the Netherlands in terms of the number of fully recyclable, glass-free PV modules installed at a single location. This sets this project apart from other large-scale solar energy projects, where circularity is often limited to intentions or partial measures.
In this project, all 100% panels are recyclable, free from PFAS and aluminium, and manufactured in the Netherlands with a demonstrably lower carbon footprint than conventional alternatives. The combination of scale and principle makes it a benchmark project for the sector. It demonstrates that circularity need not come at the expense of capacity, reliability or economic viability in large-scale solar energy.
The production process for Solarge panels results in a carbon footprint that is up to 80% lower than that of traditional glass modules. This difference stems from the use of thermoplastic polymers instead of energy-intensive glass and aluminium, and from the automated production at the factory in Weert, which minimises transport distances and takes place entirely within the Netherlands.
In practice, this means that the installation on the SABIC site not only generates clean energy, but also has a low embodied carbon footprint itself. The panels’ life cycle has been designed with circularity in mind: at the end of their useful life, the thermoplastic materials can be recovered and reused. This is in line with the broader objective of the circular economy, whereby raw materials remain in the supply chain for as long as possible and waste is minimised.
For organisations that report on Scope 3 emissions or wish to make their supply chain more sustainable, this project offers a concrete example of how the procurement of sustainable rooftop installations contributes to measurable CO₂ reductions across the entire value chain.
The project in Bergen op Zoom offers valuable insights for project developers, property managers and installers working on large-scale commercial rooftop projects. The first lesson is that roof load is an underestimated factor when selecting solar panels. Many industrial and logistics buildings are not designed to support the weight of conventional glass modules. Lightweight solar panels such as the SOLO series make it possible to utilise roofs that would otherwise be ruled out.
The second lesson concerns installation time. On large roofs, the faster installation of a 50% translates directly into lower project costs and shorter lead times. This is particularly relevant for projects where disruption to tenants or business processes must be kept to a minimum. The third lesson is strategic in nature: by opting for panels with a demonstrable reduction in CO₂ emissions and full material traceability via the C_passport®, clients can underpin their sustainability reporting with hard data rather than assumptions.
For parties considering undertaking a similar project, it makes sense to explore early on in the process which roof structures are suitable and what level of energy yield is realistic. As part of its service offering for commercial end-users, Solarge provides tailored calculations based on location, roof orientation and shading, enabling decision-makers to bring concrete figures to the table. The project with Engie and SABIC demonstrates that ambition and feasibility can go hand in hand, provided the right technology and partners are chosen.
This content was generated with the help of AI and it may contain mistakes
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