Solar panel plant to start up in Windsor
Facility could employ 500 within 3 years
Ontario’s first solar panel manufacturing facility is expected to start production by the end of the year on Windsor airport lands and employ up to 200 people by next spring — and possibly 500 in total within three years.
Solar Source Corp. decided to invest at least $40 million in its Windsor launch because of the city's proximity to the United States and the University of Windsor, where the Canadian firm hopes to recruit talent in the field of renewable energy, company president Ross Beatty said Tuesday.
"The largest market for solar energy in the world is right here, is right below us," he said. "The university is very well known for its research and development. That's very exciting for us."
Solar Source has partnered with Hind High Vacuum Company (HHV), the leading manufacturer of amorphous silicon thin film and crystalline silicon solar panel manufacturing tools in India. The jobs available will range from engineering and technical, to administration and marketing.
"About 30 per cent of the people out there will be assemblers," HHV managing director Prasanth Sakhamuri said.
The City of Windsor has agreed to spend up to $4 million to build the 45,000-square-foot facility, which will then be leased to the company.