SolarWorld recently announced that it will undertake a solar expansion project in Oregon in 2015. The largest crystalline silicon solar manufacturer in the Americas will add a solar production line in Hillsboro to increase the capacity of its solar panel assembly plant up to 530 megawatts.
Solarworld will also expand its advanced cell production capacity by 100 megawatts. The new project is expected to create 200 additional jobs for the local community, bringing the company’s total number of employees up to 900. The combined cost of these new expansions will run to about $10 million and will bring SolarWorld’s total investment in Oregon at around $630 million.
SolarWorld expansion buzz with potential economic growth
The company’s new line will increase solar panel production capacity from 390 megawatts to 530 MW annually. SolarWorld’s plant remains the biggest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. It considers this expansion a stepping stone to 630 MW of capacity in the future.
The company will increase production capacity of its PERC (Passive Emitter Rear Contact) advanced technology PV cells from 335 MW to 435 MW. This company has been the world leader in industrializing PERC innovation, starting with its $27 million investment in Hillsboro in 2012.
By expanding its operation in this area, SolarWorld will produce 60-cell mono-crystalline panels having power densities of 280 watts-peak and higher.
- Through these expansions, the company will add around 200 full-time employees. The company will utilize Oregon’s employment multiplier for manufacturing, wherein it will estimate the number of indirect jobs created for every new direct factory job, which will result to about 540 additional upstream and downstream jobs.
SolarWorld aiming to take industry head on in hopes to be leaders
“It is no secret that the last several years have been tough for SolarWorld and for U.S. solar manufacturers in general,” says Mukesh Dulani, SolarWorld U.S. President.
“However, thanks to a variety of factors, including our trade cases against China, difficult but necessary financial controls and a fantastic group of employees, we have turned the corner,” he explains.
“Today’s announcement shows that SolarWorld is not only here to stay, but it also is ready to extend our leadership in the American solar manufacturing industry,” continues Dulani.
U.S Senator Ron Wyden honored by SolarWorld for protecting U.S industry
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance was present in the news conference where SolarWorld announced its planned expansions.
He received a commemorative plaque as a recognition for his years of support for SolarWorld and its employees. Sen. Wyden also gave his comments about the company’s planned expansions at the news conference.
“I am thrilled that SolarWorld’s new production line is adding 200 good-paying, high-skill manufacturing jobs to Oregon’s economy,” says Sen. Wyden.
“These are jobs worth fighting for, which is why I have worked side by side with SolarWorld to ensure our trade agreements with China are actually enforced,” he continues.
“The result of our teamwork is that an anchor of Oregon’s manufacturing base is once again growing and proving that U.S. workers and employers can succeed against any nation in the world, as long as they’re competing on a level playing field,” he adds.
