German Firm Plans Solar Product Plant In Tennessee

February 26, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

U.S. corporations will have another source for solar energy cells with the announcement of a new plant in Tennessee.

Wacker Chemie AG, a German manufacturer of the basic material used in solar-energy cells, plans to build a $1 billion plant in Bradley County, Tenn. The plant is expected to begin producing polycrystalline silicon sometime in 2012 and will provide an initial 500 to 600 jobs.

“We expect polysilicon demand from the solar and semiconductor industries to further increase in coming years,” Rudolf Staudigl, president and CEO of Wacker Chemie AG, told the Tennessean. “Purchasing the land is an essential prerequisite to quickly build up additional production capacities outside the euro zone in line with the projected market trends and growth in demand.”

The plant is the second polycrystalline silicon factory announced for Tennessee in recent months. One of Wacker’s key competitors, Hemlock Semiconductor Corp., said in December that it plans to build a $1.2 billion facility in the state. The plant is expected to open in 2012 and create 800 jobs, the Tennessean reported.

In 2006, Wacker signed a contract to supply solar energy materials to ErSol Solar Energy AG. The contract begins this year.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader