Norwegian-based photo voltaic vitality part producer NorSun says it plans to spend $620 million to construct its first US-based manufacturing unit—a 5-GW facility in Tulsa, Okla., that can produce silicon ingots and wafers for photo voltaic cells and panels, the agency. introduced.
NorSun stated it has chosen a 60-acre web site at Tulsa International Airport, with development set to start in late 2024. The standing of the contractor choice was not disclosed. The undertaking is in cooperation with the Oklahoma Dept. of Commerce and the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, stated in a late June state announcement that cited “a beautiful financial bundle” from the state belief, metropolis and airport however didn’t disclose the motivation quantities. in {dollars}.
The start-up of the plant is about for 2026, “making the Oklahoma facility one of many first within the US to provide high-performing silicon ingots and wafers, which is at the moment the largest bottleneck in reaching a completely home photo voltaic provide chain,” the state stated.
The Tulsa web site affords house to develop manufacturing as much as 10 GW, NorSun stated.
“Our marketing strategy has an formidable timeline … to fulfill the crucial want for American-made vitality,” stated firm CEO Erik Løkke-Øwre, citing “the manufacturing ecosystem of Oklahoma,” in addition to labor provide and enlargement potential. Oslo-based NorSun final 12 months obtained a $60-million grant from the European Union Innovation Fund to develop its present 1-GW manufacturing unit in Årdal, Norway to three GW. It additionally raised $8.5 million from fairness traders final 12 months.
Since its inception in 2007, the corporate has been the main producer within the west of monocrystalline ingots and wafers for ultra-high effectivity photo voltaic cells.
