The 3,300-square-meter facility is equipped with a 44 MWp(2) production line and will roll out approximately 150,000 high efficiency solar panels annually.
The plant, to be known as , SunPower Manufacturing De Vernejoul, will primarily be dedicated to turning out SunPower's Maxeon solar cells for the European residential and commercial rooftop markets.
"We believe our new De Vernejoul manufacturing facility, located at the heart of major European solar markets, allows us to supply the world's highest efficiency solar panels to our customers," said Marty Neese, SunPower chief operating officer.
"This physical proximity to our French, Italian, German and Belgian customers will enhance our flexibility and shorten our delivery lead times, ramping up our ability to compete in today's highly competitive market," Neese said.
Arnaud Chaperon, vice president, Electricity & New Energies at Total, which owns 66 percent of SunPower, described the manufacturer as "the linchpin of Total's solar activities".
We intend to build on the quality and performance of its products as well as on its technological innovation to further grow solar energy," Chaperon said. "The new solar panel manufacturing facility, SunPower's second in France alongside the facility in Toulouse, is further proof of our commitment to pursue growth internationally and in France. The opening of this plant, also demonstrates our dedication to developing jobs in the Lorraine region of eastern France."
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