Mar 22 - Datamonitor

BP Solar has begun constructing a mega cell plant at its European headquarters in Madrid. For phase I of the Madrid project, the BP subsidiary is aiming to expand its annual cell capacity from 55MW to around 300MW.

Construction of the new Madrid manufacturing facility is already underway, and the first line is expected to be fully operational before summer 2007. Construction has also begun on lines two and three.

In addition to the new manufacturing lines, the Tres Cantos site will be remodelled to include a new photovoltaic (PV) systems prototype area, a visitor training center and product testing and development facilities. The mega cell plant will be one of the largest such facilities in Europe.

"The announcement of the two mega cell plants cements BP Solar's commitment to maintain a market leadership position in PV" said Lee Edwards, BP Solar's CEO. "The new cell technologies we are using, our intellectual property in casting with Mono2 and the contracts we have signed to secure preferential access to metallurgical grade silicon are all important steps towards our goal of offering customers PV-generated electricity on a par with the cost of conventional grid-supplied electricity."

BP Solar has also begun construction on a similar facility in Bangalore, India, which will be operated by Tata BP Solar, a Bangalore-based joint venture between Tata Power and BP Solar. Once operational, this plant is expected to ensure that Tata BP Solar retains its position as the largest manufacturer of solar PV products in the Indian sub-continent.