European solar panel brand Recom announced it will set up a 5-GW solar cell and panel manufacturing facility in Portland, Tennessee. The manufacturing lines will be housed in the same building as electrical balance of system manufacturer Shoals.
The facility in Portland, Tennessee, with the former Shoals manufacturing site in the lower left.
Dean Solon, founder of Shoals, has shifted his focus to a new company, Create Energy, which aims to build up American renewable energy manufacturing. Solon announced today with Hamlet Tunyan, CEO of Recom Technologies, that the silicon solar panels will be manufactured under a new venture: ReCreate.
“We’re excited to ignite the rocket engines on this new venture and deliver high-quality, American-made solar solutions,” Solon said. “At Create Energy, our mission is to ReCreate the renewables market and offer comprehensive solutions for solar, BESS, and eMobility projects. ReCreate will set the standard for the solar module and cell markets.”
Earlier this year, Shoals moved its manufacturing operations into a new 638,000-ft2 facility after making wire harnesses, combiner boxes and more in a much smaller factory for years. No timeline has been announced for when solar panel manufacturing will begin at the site, but ReCreate will make product for both the U.S. and European markets.
“This project represents a significant advancement in our commitment to renewable energy and innovation,” Tunyan said. “By manufacturing in the USA, we are supporting the local economy and setting new industry standards.”
Recom had as much as 3.2 GW of solar panel manufacturing capacity within Europe, operating plants in France and Italy. The company’s French subsidiary, Recom Sillia, recently was placed in liquidation, and local media reported that Recom’s European manufacturing efforts would be focused solely in Italy.
