First Solar, Inc. (Tempe, Arizona), U.S. manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) modules, and EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN; Paris, France) recently announced that they are in the final stages of exclusive negotiations with the town of Blanquefort, near the city of Bordeaux, to locate a new solar panel manufacturing plant. The plant is to be co-financed by First Solar and EDF EN. According to the press release, it will be operated by First Solar, which pledges to sell the entire production of thin-film PV panels to EDF EN during the first 10 years of operation.

The construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2010, and full production capacity of more than 100 megawatts (MW) a year is to be reached in early 2012. First Solar reports that the plant represents a total investment of approximately 100 million Euros (144 million US-dollars), and that it is expected to create up to 400 jobs in the region of Aquitaine.

Domestic PV panel production to be key catalyst for French solar market

First Solar and EDF EN believe that France will become a major market for solar electricity in Europe thanks in large part to forward-looking French solar policies. According to the press release, the companies decided to focus on Blanquefort as the site for the manufacturing plant after an extensive review of potential other locations throughout the country. "Blanquefort is the ideal location for our second manufacturing facility in Europe and producing there will bring us closer to the French solar market, which we believe has the potential to become one of Europe's brightest", said Rob Gillette, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of First Solar. "Aquitaine has impressed us with its passion, excellent infrastructure and highly skilled workforce." The company's first European manufacturing facility is in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. David Corchia, CEO of EDF EN, said: "We believe that this will be a key catalyst in the development of a strong solar industry in France." First Solar reports that its manufacturing site will also include a facility for the recycling of solar panels, France's first factory of that kind. According to the press release, First Solar operates the solar industry's first comprehensive, pre-funded collection and recycling program to encourage the recovery of its panels and re-use of materials.

2009-12-29 | Courtesy: First Solar Inc. | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH