SunPower winding down Hillsboro panel assembly plant

The Hillsboro facility had started producing the P Series modules in February 2019 and had a capacity of around 120MW. Image: SunPower Corp
SunPower is to permanently close its solar panel assembly plant in Hillsboro, Oregon with the loss of around 170 jobs.
SunPower had spun-off its loss-making manufacturing operations to Maxeon Solar Technologies in August 2020, except the small assembly plant in Hillsboro, which the firm acquired from SolarWorld after the German solar manufacturer entered bankruptcy. Sunpower had converted a small section of the facility to produce its P Series panels using Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) and its patented ‘shingle’ cell interconnect technology.
The Hillsboro facility started producing the P Series modules in February 2019 and had a capacity of around 120MW.
"We made the difficult but necessary decision to close our plant after careful evaluation and the change in focus of our business over recent months," said Tom Werner, CEO and chairman of the board of SunPower. "We recognize how hard this is for all the employees impacted and are dedicated to helping them through this transition."
SunPower said that it expected to cease operations in Hilsboro by March 2021 and complete the wind-down of the facility in early June. However, the company said that it would look at other options such as selling the facility as well as explore a joint venture option.
PV ModuleTech
Mar 09 - Mar 11, 2021
ONLINE
Understand fully the technical and logistical supply chains that determine the production and performance of solar modules, including all related factors impacting quality, reliability & bankability. This event will be run online with streamed content and online networking.
Also read...
-
First Solar sells 10GW solar project business to Canadian pension fund
-
GCL-SI cancels original plans for 2.5GW ‘shingled’ module assembly plant
-
PROJECT ROUND-UP: NextEnergy adds 53.8MWp to portfolio, BayWa r.e. sells Malaysian solar
-
LONGi planning new 15GW solar cell plant to be operational in 2022
-
PROJECT ROUND-UP: Lightsource BP completes 260MW of Texan solar, Plans for 203MW of Polish solar revealed
Comments