German solar manufacturer Schott AG, along with New Mexico's Democratic governor Bill Richardson, announced on Jan. 14 that Schott subsidiary Schott Solar will build a new solar energy technology production facility in the Mesa del Sol region of Albuquerque, N.M.
Schott will construct a 200,000 square-foot facility, which is expected to begin production in 2009 and immediately create 350 jobs. The initial investment in New Mexico by Schott Solar will be on the order of $100 million, while long term plans call for the building to expand to 800,000 square feet with 1,500 employees, representing a total investment of $500 million.
The production site is expected to initially focus on manufacturing receivers for concentrated solar thermal power plants and 64MW of photovoltaic modules.
The move capitalizes on growing demand for Schott and other manufacturers, and follows close on the heels of another new plant opening in Jena, Germany, last November.
