SunPower, a leading solar technology and energy services provider, is planning to open a new solar panel manufacturing facility in Cape Town, South Africa.
In this facility SunPower will focus on manufacturing its high efficiency SunPower E20/440 Solar Panels and expects to produce up to 160-megawatts (MW) annually.
The development is part of SunPower’s continued focus in the region. South Africa has been one of the fastest growing solar markets in the world thanks to the geographical conditions and worsening energy conditions in the region.
Earlier this year, SunPower built two large power plants totaling 33 MW located near Douglas in theNorthern Cape Town province in South Africa.
SunPower has also been appointed as the preferred EPC and O&M contractor for an 86-MWdc project in the round three Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement program by the MULILO-TOTAL consortium.
Marty Neese, SunPower COO, said, “Our investment in this new plant is part of our commitment to the local South African PV market, and meets our objective to build a sustainable business through local investment and create jobs in the medium and long-term.”
The manufacturing plant will also create up to 150 local jobs. Recruitment will start in the first quarter of 2015, the company said.
With the new manufacturing facility SunPower will be able to meet the growing demands from the locals. It will also enjoy the benefits of supplying the modules from domestic plants, instead of importing it from other parts of the world.
Read: SunPower revenue grew marginally in 3Q 2014
The manufacturing facility will also consolidate SunPower’s South African business into one building by bringing other units like SunPower’s Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and Operations & Management (O&M) offices into it.
SunPower operates solar panel manufacturing plants in North America, Europe and Asia.
Rajani Baburajan