Carbon, a French PV module maker, has revealed plans to amass panel producer Photowatt, which is a unit of French power big EDF.
From pv journal in France
French photo voltaic module producer Carbon introduced a “draft settlement” to amass PV module maker Photowatt from its present guardian firm, EDF Renouvelables, a unit of French power big EDF.
“We assure the upkeep and development of the Bourgoin-Jallieu website (Isère), in addition to the preservation of all jobs,” stated France Etienne Roche, director of engagement at Carbon, pv journal in France.
Roche didn’t present any particulars concerning the assembly to be held with Photowatt worker representatives on September 19.
Carbon faces the problem of convincing Photowatt’s 170 staff of its acquisition plan. A survey by the FO Energie commerce union confirmed that solely 12.6% (20 staff) supported the venture, whereas 78.6% (125 staff) favored stopping operations with a redeployment plan by EDF or exterior help .
FO Energie is anxious about Carbon’s unsure financing and the corporate’s restricted expertise within the photo voltaic sector.
Carbon has but to safe the €1.7 billion ($1.89 billion) wanted to construct a 5 GW manufacturing facility in Fos-sur-Mer, southern France.
Photowatt, based in 1979 as a derivative of Philips for satellite tv for pc PV cell analysis, switched to industrial manufacturing in 1990, specializing in cells, wafers, and modules. Despite its present 200 MW capability, the Grenoble-based firm has struggled to compete with Chinese rivals and stays in deficit, regardless of being acquired by EDF Renouvelables in 2012.
Attempts at acquisitions and partnerships, together with Canadian Solar and EMC Greentech have failed. Photowatt just lately produced photo voltaic panels for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Carbon’s acquisition seems to be aimed toward dashing up the gigafactory’s manufacturing timeline, which might in any other case not begin earlier than 2026-27 as a consequence of allowing and building. In May, on the Select France commerce present, Carbon launched “Carbon One,” a plan to assemble 500 MW of photo voltaic panels by 2025.
However, the French commerce unions CFDT, CFE-CGC, CGT, and FO doubted the success of the venture.
“EDF Renouvelables is basically financing the extraction operation to adapt the venture website as a result of Carbon doesn’t have the means to take action,” they stated in a joint assertion. “In this context, staff take into account that EDF Renouvelables is attempting to enhance its picture by delegating the closure of Photowatt to a 3rd occasion.”
EDF Renouvelables, contacted by pv journal in Franceconfirmed that Carbon goals to “develop and preserve the location, whereas sustaining all jobs,” in keeping with an organization spokesperson, who offered extra particulars.
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