Diversified German technology group Schott has announced that its wholly owned solar equipment subsidiary Schott Solar will construct a new solar energy technology production facility in the Mesa del Sol region of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Schott said that the production site will initially manufacture receivers for concentrated solar thermal power plants and 64MW of photovoltaic modules.
Schott will construct a 200,000 square-foot facility, which is expected to begin production in 2009 and immediately create 350 jobs. The investment by the firm in New Mexico is expected to be around $100 million.
Anticipating the need to increase production of its solar power technologies as the market for renewable energy in the US grows, the new site is designed to support expansion of both its photovoltaic module and solar receiver lines.
Long-term plans call for the building to expand to 800,000 square feet with 1,500 employees, representing a total investment of $500 million.