The Inspired Economist

In Hillsboro, Oregon, SolarWorld AG will establish an integrated solar silicon wafer and solar cell production which will reach a capacity of 500 MW by the year 2009 which would become the largest solar factory on the American continent. At a price of only $40 million, the solar technology group succeeded in taking over the silicon wafer production of the Japanese Komatsu Group which had invested some $500 million (in these days 600 million EUR) at the Hillsboro location – in the immediate vicinity of the world’s largest factory of the chip manufacturer Intel – but had never gone into production with the new facility due to a weak demand situation in the chip industry. The SolarWorld Group will further develop the new site with an investment of about $400 million. Oregon will support these investments with property and business energy tax credits. “This is a major step forward – not only for our environment, but also Oregon’s economy,” said Governor Kulongoski. “SolarWorld AG will become a major partner in our state’s move towards energy independence. I appreciate their commitment and dedication to achieving a clean energy future.”

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Following this acquisition the SolarWorld Group will shift its solar crystallization activities from Vancouver, WA, to Hillsboro and already start up production in the summer of 2007. In the first stage of the expansion capacities will be enhanced to 100 MW. At the same time the group will double the capacities of its specialized solar module factory at the Camarillo, CA production site to 100 MW.

Via: (SolarWorld AG)

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