Solar module assembly production has begun at an Arizona plant owned by Swiss solar technology developer Meyer Burger. Based in the city of Goodyear, a flawless factory audit signalled the start of production.
The plant’s first cells, to be used in its American panels, have been produced by the company in Germany. However, a new plant being built in Colorado will provide cells once completed – resulting in an American-made product.
Having recently shut down its German solar panel production factory due to a crash in demand for European solar products versus Chinese products, the plant will operate only until the Colorado plant is up and running.
Meyer Burger is looking to finance its venture through loan agreements, with the Inflation Reduction Act covering the disbursement of 45X credits and a loan application to the US Department of Energy for its Colorado plant.
The company has claimed that the Arizona facility will have a 1.5GW per annum production capacity – possibly expanding to 2GW. Meanwhile, the Colorado facility is expected to reach 2GW of per annum capacity.
[Image: Arizona’s first modules. Image credit: Meyer Burger]
