SolarWorld Opens New Cell Production Facility in US

SolarWorld has announced that it is opening a solar cell production facility in in Hillsboro in the state of Oregon, US. The company has also announced that it is investing $500 million in new technology.

In an integrated manufacturing process, wafer-thin silicon discs as well as solar cells will be produced with an initial capacity of 100MW annually. The company has announced that the capacity will be expanded to 500MW in the next three years.

Frank Asbeck, chairman and CEO of SolarWorld, said: “In 2009 we are expecting the market to more than double to about 1,000MW. There is no safer investment than that in solar energy.

“For the house owner it means that with the power generation on his own roof or plot of land he can render himself independent of the rising electricity prices. For us as a company it means that we can further expand our position of leadership in the world in this important technology of the future.”