5 January 2011

Stion to site 100MW mass-production facility in Mississippi

Stion Corp, which has initial 10MW-capacity manufacturing and R&D facilities for its nanostructure-based thin-film photovoltaic panels in San Jose, CA, USA, is to build its first mass-production facility in Mississippi as part of an incentive agreement with the state that includes a $75m loan and other tax and training incentives. The project will be the first thin-film solar panel factory in Mississippi.

Stion’s current product line features monolithically integrated 65cm x 165cm glass–glass copper-indium-gallium-sulfide-(di)selenide (CIGSSe) PV panels using monolithically integrated circuits. With a form factor of 65cm x 165cm and energy conversion efficiencies of at least 11% and power ratings of 110–120W, the modules are designed for use in all major market segments, including commercial/government, residential, utility and off-grid.

The first phase of the project includes a line with annual capacity of 100MW planned for Hattiesburg, MS — to come on line in 2012 — which will entail more than $100m of investment and create 200 direct jobs in 2011 and 2012, says Stion. Over the next six years, the project should deliver more than 1000 jobs and $500m of investment.

“Together, the state of Mississippi, Forrest County, and the city of Hattiesburg offer a business-friendly location with a strong resource base for manufacturing,” says Stion’s president & CEO Chet Farris. “In partnering with them, we are pleased to help address this country’s energy needs with clean technology, and support the region’s and the nation’s economy,” he adds.

Founded in 2006 as Nstructures, Stion raised $15m in June 2007 in a Series B financing round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and joined by General Catalyst Partners along with previous investors Khosla Ventures and Braemar Energy Ventures. Last June, these added $20m to $50m invested by the world’s largest semiconductor foundry Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) — via its affiliate VentureTech Alliance — in a $70m Series D round of fundraising to help scale production (boosting the total raised since 2006 to $114.6m).

“Our expansion in Hattiesburg is an integral part of our capital-efficient scale-up plan,” says Farris. “The cost and time-to-market advantage of building here will provide a significant competitive advantage,” he reckons.

See related items:

Stion licenses CIGSS technology to TSMC

Tags: Stion CIGSSe

Visit: www.stion.com