Image by Enel
3Sun’s Expansion and Acclaim in Solar Manufacturing
Enel North America, in collaboration with its affiliate 3Sun USA, has officially designated Inola, Oklahoma as the site for its advanced solar cell and panel manufacturing facility, boasting a capacity of 3 GW.
Covering an expansive area of 2 million square feet, the factory is anticipated to generate around 1,000 new employment opportunities and commence module production by the end of 2024. Enel is committing a substantial investment of $1 billion into the facility, with construction slated to begin in the autumn of 2023. There is also a future possibility of expanding the factory to achieve a production capacity of 6 GW, which would result in an additional 900 direct jobs.
Giovanni Bertolino, the head of 3Sun USA, expressed pride in being a part of the transition towards American-made energy and highlighted the selection of Oklahoma as a testament to the favorable attributes of the Tulsa Port of Inola site, the state’s dedication to workforce development, and an appealing investment climate.
Situated in the Tulsa Port of Inola, an industrial park spanning 2,500 acres and offering rail and barge transportation accessibility, the solar factory will specialize in the production of bifacial heterojunction technology (HJT) solar cells and modules. Once completed, 3Sun will join Qcells and Silfab as the only American manufacturers of silicon solar cells, showcasing the country’s growing presence in the solar industry.
For several years, 3Sun has been actively producing high-efficiency cells in Catania, Italy, and their European facility is set to transition to HJT production later this year. In addition, the company is currently engaged in the development of next-generation tandem cell technology.
Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr., Board Chairman of Tulsa Ports, expressed his pride in welcoming Enel’s 3Sun solar panel manufacturing facility to the Tulsa Port of Inola. He highlighted the transfer of industrial land by the Public Service Company of Oklahoma in 2019, which paved the way for attracting significant economic development projects. Bartlett believes that Enel will be a valuable long-term partner for the economic success and growth of both the Tulsa Region and the State of Oklahoma.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm commended Enel’s investment in Oklahoma and American manufacturing, aligning it with President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Granholm emphasized that Enel’s new facility in Oklahoma exemplifies the nation’s transformation into a powerhouse for clean energy manufacturing. She highlighted the diverse workforce in the Sooner State, which will proudly manufacture solar panels labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” to contribute to powering the nation through the 21st century, as they have done in the past.
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