The plant, co-financed by First Solar and EDF EN, will be operated by First Solar and sell its entire production of thin-film photovoltaic panels to EDF EN for its first 10 years of operation. Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2010 and a full production capacity of more than 100MW a year is to be reached in early 2012.
The company said that the plant is expected to create up to 400 jobs in the region of Aquitaine and represent a total investment of approximately €100m. The decision to focus on Blanquefort for the manufacturing plant follows an extensive review of potential sites throughout the country.
First Solar’s manufacturing site will also include a facility for recycling solar panels. First Solar operates the solar industry’s comprehensive, pre-funded collection and recycling program to encourage the recovery of its panels and re-use of materials.
Rob Gillette, CEO of First Solar, said: “Blanquefort is the ideal location for our second manufacturing facility in Europe and producing there will bring us closer to the French solar market, which we believe has the potential to become one of Europe’s brightest.”
David Corchia, CEO of EDF EN, said: ”EDF Energies Nouvelles is very proud to see the achievement of a key milestone in this strategic partnership with First Solar. Securing a competitive supply of modules will allow us to optimize and speed up the deployment of our ambitious French solar program.”
