BP Solar to Build one of the Largest Module Assembly Factories in Europe in Puertollano

The plant will produce up to 300 MW each year, creating more than 500 direct new jobs
BP Solar, a European market leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of photovoltaic solar energy, will begin construction in the second quarter of 2008 of a module assembly factory in the industrial park of La Nava II, in Puertollano (Castilla La Mancha). This represents an investment of around 100m Euros.
The new plant will use state-of-the-art technology to manufacture photovoltaic solar modules. The production capacity, in phase one, would be up to 300 MW per year, which means enough energy to meet the needs of between 150,000 and 200,000 homes and a saving of approximately 420,000 tons in CO2 emissions per year. A further possibility, once the phase one is in production and dependent on the conditions of the market, is the implementation of a second phase expansion of the plant to reach production capacity of up to 500 MW.
The BP Solar factory in Puertollano will not only bring about social benefits but will deliver major advances in the economic development of the area as it is expected to generate 500-600 direct new jobs. The opening of the factory sets a benchmark in technological development in the field of the large-scale production of photovoltaic modules worldwide.
An example of cooperation
The agreement was signed today by the President of Castilla La Mancha, José Mª Barreda, Mayor of Puertollano, Joaquín C. Hermoso, the chairman of BP Group in Spain, Alfredo Barrios, and Emilio Camblor Strategy Delivery Manager from BP Solar.
The event was attended by representatives of the different institutions involved in the project and of representatives from BP Solar and BP Group in Spain.
Alfredo Barrios, chairman of BP Group in Spain said
“This project has been made possible thanks to the support from the central, regional and local governments These institutions have worked, alongside BP Solar, to help deliver a project that will provide numerous social benefits through job creation and also the development of a sustainable environment.”
Emilio Camblor, Strategy Delivery Manager from BP Solar in Spain said
“This project is part of BP Solar’s ambitious growth plans. The new facility gives us additional capacity located in our key market - Europe - and it confirms our commitment to both the region and Spain as a competitive environment in which to do business.”

BP Solar. One of the leading companies in the European market in the design, manufacture and marketing of photovoltaic solar energy currently producing solar cells and PV modules using monocrystalline and polycrystalline technology. BP Solar has over 30 years experience in the sector, with production plants in the United States, Spain, India, Australia and China. It has a workforce of approximately 2,200 all over the world, of which 550 are currently employed in Spain.
BP Solar’s European headquarters is located in Madrid, where it has two plants: a production plant for PV modules and another for the assembly of PV modules. BP Solar is part Alternative Energy which is owned by BP p.l.c, , one of the largest business groups in oil, natural gas and renewable energies in the world.