Global Solar Energy opens first phase of 40MW CIGS plant

Global Solar Energy has officially opened what it claims to be the largest CIGS solar production plant in the world, located in Tuscon, Arizona. The first phase full-production capacity is set at 40MW. With an expansion set for its plants in Tuscon, Arizona and its new plant in Berlin, Global Solar Energy expects to have a total capacity of 75MW in 2008 and a plan for an addition 100MW capacity by the end of 2009.

“The solar energy market is rapidly growing as a premier choice of alternate energy. CIGS photovoltaic technology provides the market with a new renewable energy option offering the greatest potential for driving down the installed cost of energy,” said Mike Gering, CEO of Global Solar. “Through this large-scale expansion, Global Solar is continuing to lead the industry and convert solar energy potential into reality. Equipped with our years of actual production experience developing repeatable, reliable processes, we are prepared to help drive the solar market into the next level of product innovation and adoption.”

“Given that Global Solar is producing the highest volume of CIGS thin-film solar material available, the opening of its plant in Tucson is a remarkable event,” said Tom Kimbis, acting Director at the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technology Program. “Production from this facility will help satisfy the strong demand for solar product across the world, while providing local residents of Tucson, already a Solar America City, with jobs in a rapidly-growing, high-tech industry. The addition of the Tucson Global Solar plant will help meet the 2015 goal of the Solar America Initiative of achieving solar electricity cost competitiveness with grid electricity, especially through the use of flexible CIGS thin-film technologies in building-integrated applications.”

Global Solar has also broken ground on what will be one of the world’s largest CIGS solar fields at 750 kilowatts (kW), and is commissioning its 35MW plant in Berlin, Germany to open in the second half of 2008.