BTU International establishes dedicated PV equipment unit led by industry veterans

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

BTU International, a maker of thermal processing equipment, has set up a dedicated business unit dubbed the ‘Alternative Energy Group’ to handle business expansion within the photovoltaic industry. As part of the move, the company is to establish two international research and process application laboratories—one in Billerica, Massachusetts and one in Shanghai, China.

“The increasing use of solar power as a clean, renewable energy source provides an excellent opportunity for us to grow our solar equipment business,” said BTU Chairman and CEO Paul J. van der Wansem. “We are strengthening our organization in a variety of ways beginning with the formation of a new Business Group for Alternative Energy under the leadership of two new executives with excellent experience and managerial talent.”

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

John J. McCaffrey, Jr. has joined BTU as Vice President of Alternative Energy, in charge of engineering and product development, while Douglas A. Lawson has joined the company and will be responsible for business development.

McCaffrey has worked at Evergreen Solar when it was a startup in 1999, where he designed, built, and operated their U.S. pilot and initial manufacturing facilities, achieving required margin and revenue targets. He next worked with Q-Cells to design the initial 30 megawatt EverQ factory in Germany, after which he moved to Daystar Technologies, a CIGS thin film solar company, setting up their pilot line for foil, and led the initial design for their 25 megawatt glass manufacturing facility in California.

Lawson was previously employed at PRI Automation and is a graduate of the University of Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, with a degree in chemical engineering, and was awarded a Master’s degree in both manufacturing engineering and business administration from Boston University.

“We aim to double our solar business in 2008 as compared to 2007, and are pursuing a strategy that will allow us to double again for 2009,” noted van der Wansem. 

Read Next

September 17, 2025
US renewables developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close for its 400MW 1000 Mile solar project in the US state of Texas.
September 17, 2025
Spanish renewables developer and operator Acciona Energía has commissioned its 412MWp Juna solar PV plant in Kawani village in the western state of Rajasthan. 
September 17, 2025
Spanish IPP Velto Renewables has acquired a portfolio of 53 operational solar assets in Spain with a combined capacity of 260MW.
September 17, 2025
Struggling Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger has formally entered into a debt moratorium, with the possibility of rescuing the entire group now looking unlikely.
September 17, 2025
Nexamp has secured US$350 million through a long-term financing facility to expand its 6GW utility-scale solar and battery storage pipeline in the US. 
September 17, 2025
Chinese module producer DAS Solar is planning a 5GW manufacturing facility focused on producing high-efficiency back contact cells.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA