Meyer Burger to Build 400MW Solar Module Mfg Facility in U.S.

Switzerland-based Meyer Burger Technology has announced that it will build a production facility for high-performance solar modules in Goodyear, Arizona.

The establishment of production in Arizona offers Meyer Burger customers in the growing North American market faster and direct access to solar modules and makes them less dependent on imports, says the firm.

The Arizona location follows the company’s announcement in September this year that it will be building its first manufacturing facility outside Europe in the United States. Seeking to make a contribution to the transformation of the energy supply in the USA, the decision in favor of Arizona was made due to the availability of well-trained specialists on site and the proximity to the customers. The decision is also based on the cooperative partnerships with the city of Goodyear, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) and the state of Arizona, said the company.

The initial annual production capacity of the facility will be 400 MW and will enable the manufacture of solar modules for residential rooftop systems, commercial / industrial rooftop systems and solar parks. Production is to begin by the end of 2022 and will initially create 250 jobs, and then 500 with a full 1.5 GW capacity. Meyer Burger has entered into a tenancy agreement as the first tenant of a recently built new building at customary market conditions.

CEO Gunter Erfurt said, “My sincere thanks go to our partners in Arizona for their support in this process. Solar energy will be critical to achieving climate change goals in the US and worldwide. Our proprietary heterojunction cell technology and patented SmartWire module technology enable us to produce commercially competitive products from to produce the highest quality and performance. “

“We are delighted that Meyer Burger has selected Goodyear for its first US manufacturing facility,” said Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. “The company’s new solar module manufacturing facility will further strengthen Arizona’s excellent reputation as a leading state in the field of renewable energies.”

Meyer Burger has started recruiting for strategically important functions in order to prepare the installation and commissioning of the systems. The company intends to hire more employees and train staff in 2022 to ramp up production quickly.