BP Solar to Build the Largest Module Assembly Factory in Europe in Puertollano

After announcing a huge expansion of its cell plant at its European manufacturing headquarters in Tres Cantos (Madrid) last March, BP Solar will invest $145 million to build in Puertollano (Castilla La Mancha) the largest module assembly factory in the Old Continent.

The new plant will use state-of-the-art technology to manufacture photovoltaic solar modules. The production capacity, in phase one, would be up to 300 MW per year, which means enough energy to meet the needs of between 150,000 and 200,000 homes and a saving of approximately 420,000 tons in CO2 emissions per year. A further possibility, once the phase one is in production, is the implementation of a second phase expansion of the plant to reach production capacity of up to 500 MW.  

The BP Solar factory in Puertollano is expected to generate 500-600 direct new jobs, with an eventual increase of 400 additional jobs in the second phase. The opening of the factory will set a benchmark in technological development in the field of the large-scale production of photovoltaic modules worldwide.  

An example of cooperation

Alfredo Barrios, chairman of BP Group in Spain said regarding this plant: “This project has been made possible thanks to the support from the central, regional and local governments. These institutions have worked, alongside BP Solar, to help deliver a project that will provide numerous social benefits through job creation and also the development of a sustainable environment.”

Certainly, local authorities have bet hard on Solar Energy, with R+D initiatives such as the ISFOC or Institute of Concentration Photovoltaics Systems  (see here our recent post on the topic) and their efforts seem to be paying off.

This is the only the latest of a string of announcements that confirm the attractiveness of the region and city (Puertollano) for all sorts of ventures related to solar power (besides standard PV and CPV, there are also projects in solar thermal power and production of silicon wafers and ingots). 

About BP Solar:

BP Solar produces solar cells and PV modules using monocrystalline and polycrystalline technology. BP Solar has production plants in the United States, Spain, India, Australia and China. It has a workforce of approximately 2,200 all over the world, of which 550 are currently employed in Spain.  

 

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Tags: BP Solar, puertollano, PV manufacturing, PV modules, solar modules, solar panels

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