UK firm secures 4 million pound order to supply tech for decarbonising solar facility in Gujarat: Report

A cleantech firm based in south-east England has secured a GBP 4 million order to supply its technology to a projected 2.0-gigawatt solar facility in Mundra, Gujarat, according to a report by news agency PTI. Gas Recovery and Recycle Limited (GR2L), an MSME (micro small and medium enterprise) business in Surrey, claims to have developed, patented and exported cutting-edge technology to reduce the energy consumption, carbon footprint and cost of manufacturing solar panels.

It was backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government’s export credit agency, with a GBP 475,000 guarantee issued under its Bond Support Scheme that helped secure the order, according to the report.

“Building on our existing export successes, support from Lloyds Banks and UKEF helped us to secure this latest growth opportunity and further develop our established international presence. I look forward to commissioning our machinery by the end of 2023,” said Rob Grant, CEO and founder of GR2L.

“With production of brand-new argon creating up to a tonne of carbon dioxide for every tonne of argon, our cutting-edge gas recycling technology helps solar facilities reduce their scope 3 CO2 emissions and produce solar fuel cells more efficiently,” he said.

Makers of solar panels use argon gas to purify silicon crystals, which are then used in solar cells. The process requires vast amounts of argon, with some producers needing to ship in multiple tankers of the gas each day, the report added.

GR2L’s Argon machinery claims to be a world first which allows solar cell production – as well as other advanced manufacturing activities like microelectronics production, 3D metals printing and aerospace heat treatments – instead to recycle up to 95 per cent of argon used. GR2L had an opportunity to supply its argon recycling technology to Mundra Solar Technology Ltd. to support a solar facility being built in the town, according to the report.

The guarantee issued under UKEF’s Bond Support Scheme meant that GR2L could instead reclaim this portion of the cash deposit, allowing GR2L to access crucial funds needed to deliver the Mundra contract and secure the exporting opportunity, according to PTI.