Chinese manufacturer, BYD, has chosen Sao Paulo in Brazil for a new manufacturing campus, including a solar panel factory.
Located in the city of Campinas, the new campus is expected to create 450 jobs, and will include building solar panels and energy storage systems. Set to open in 2015 the facility will also manufacture electric buses with accompanying battery packs.
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The two manufacturing facilities to be built on the same campus, one 30,000 square metres in size, the other 20,000, will be accompanied with a solar research and development (R&D) centre, to focus on PV, LEDs and smart grids.
Founder and chairman of BYD, Wang Chuanfu, said: “Our dream is to build solar panels and energy storage systems here to help the region achieve their zero emissions goals.”
“BYD chose Campinas because of this city’s spirit of innovation and their goal of building a cleaner society,” added Chuanfu.
Mayor of Campinas, Jonas Donizette said BYD “operates in key segments for the future of cities with sustainable urban mobility plans”.
Solar is currently in high demand in Brazil as the country faces high electricity prices due to a drought restricting the country’s main energy source: hydro power. There are two national energy auctions this year hoped to procure large solar projects.
To read more on Brazil, sister site Solar Business Focus asks if Brazil’s solar market is about to get underway, here.