First Solar and EDF Energies Nouvelles are in the concluding stages of exclusive negotiations with Blanquefort, a town that is near the city of Bordeaux, for the construction of a new solar panel manufacturing facility.
First Solar and EDF Energies will jointly finance the manufacturing plant and it will be operated by First Solar. The entire production of thin-film photovoltaic panels that are produced for the first 10 years in the manufacturing plant will be sold to EDF Energies. The construction of the plant is expected to start in second half of the year 2010. By early 2012, the facility will achieve its full production capacity, which will be in excess of 100 MW a year.
The town of Blanquefort was chosen for the solar panel manufacturing plant after an extensive study of all other potential locations in the country. The total investment is estimated to be about €100 million ($150 million) and the region of Aquitaine will be benefited with this investment. Up to 400 jobs is anticipated to be created by the plant in the region of Aquitaine. All the remaining agreements are expected to be finalized in the next few weeks.
The forward-looking solar policies adopted by France, First Solar and EDF EN believe, will help the country to become a major market for solar renewable electricity in Europe.
Rob Gillette, Chief Executive Officer of First Solar, said that by locating its second manufacturing plant in Blanquefort, the company will have easy access to the French solar market, which is poised to become Europe’s brightest solar market.
David Corchia, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Energies Nouvelles, said that the company is proud to witness this important event in its collaboration with First Solar. David Corchia further added that the competitive supply of solar panels from First Solar will enable them speed up the company’s solar program in France.