Solar panel gigafactory in Moselle: the building permit will finally be signed

An important milestone in the solar panel gigafactory project in Moselle will be reached this Friday, January 24. Indeed, the building permit as well as the environmental authorization order for the HoloSolis factory will be signed in the Metz prefecture.

This project was made official on May 15, 2023 by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, during the “Choose France” economic summit in Versailles. HoloSolis is expected to be one of the largest solar panel production factories in Europe.

The first modules manufactured in 2026

It will be built in the east of the Moselle department, in Hambach near Sarreguemines, along the A4 Paris-Strasbourg motorway, just opposite the factory of the car manufacturer Ineos Automotive, which manufactures the Grenadier (and formerly Smart).

The start of production of solar panels was initially announced for 2025, but the HoloSolis project was delayed. Ultimately, construction of the plant is expected to begin this year. The 18 hectare land on which the gigafactory is to be built has been serviced for several months.

Between 1,700 and 1,900 jobs created

The first photovoltaic cells should leave the manufacturing lines in 2026. Ultimately, production should reach ten million modules per year. The investment is of the order of 800 million euros and 1,700 to 1,900 jobs should be created.

This HoloSolis project aims in particular to be less dependent on the market for photovoltaic panels manufactured in China.