MichiganAdvantage.org

Growth Industries

Solar Energy

 


When you're ready to get your company connected to our new alternative energy economic programs, or if you have questions, contact an MEDC Solar Energy Specialist.


 

 

In short order, Michigan companies are taking the solar technology manufacturing lead. With our advanced manufacturing infrastructure, high-tech workforce and robust scientific community, we lead the world in developing technologies to meet the needs of this exploding market. Drawn by this scientific boom and an engineering community that numbers over 65,000, global powerhouses have made their headquarters here. United Solar Ovonic has four of the largest thin-film PV laminate plants in the world here and is planning a fifth. Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation has embarked upon a $2 billion expansion of its facilities, taking advantage of the largest natural deposit of silicon in North America just outside Saginaw, Michigan. Plant your solar technology company here and you’ll join a blue chip community of advanced manufacturing leaders.

 

Technology and resources converge here. As the automotive R&D capital of the world, Michigan has also given rise to a full complement of independent solar research, development and manufacturing entities focused on new technologies derived from the automotive industry. Michigan is a global leader in Manufacturing System Integration, including Supply Chain Integration and Simulation-Based Manufacturing. Within the broad spectrum of engineering capacities found in Michigan are heat transfer, power and control electronics, CAD/CAM and logistics. These abilities have stimulated the dynamic growth of Michigan’s solar energy sector. Michigan’s solar technology leaders have captured the attention of industry watchers everywhere.

 

Michigan companies are putting solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) solutions to work around the world.

United Solar Ovonic

United Solar Ovonic is the world leader in thin-film solar technologies and the manufacturer of thin-film electric modules and laminates distributed globally under the Uni-Solar brand. They offer the most cost-effective and reliable solutions to supplement their customers’ energy needs through solar electricity. United Solar is building its second plant in the mid-state community of Greenville, with plans announced in 2008 to add 400 employees at that site, bringing the total to 800.


Hemlock Semiconductor

Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation is the world’s leading producer of hyper-pure polycrystalline silicon for the semiconductor and solar industries. Based in Saginaw County, this subsidiary of Dow Corning has begun production at its new polysilicon facility that will nearly double its output of polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon). The new facility is part of a $1.5 billion expansion at its Hemlock site, bringing the company’s annual capacity to approximately 19,000 metric tons by the end of 2008, making it the largest single polysilicon facility in the world.


Evergreen Solar

Evergreen has developed state-of-the-art manufacturing featuring their unique String RibbonTM wafer technology. Today its solar panels are among the highest quality products in the industry. Because of the unique way they’re made, they are the most environmentally friendly solar panels in the business. Marlborough, Mass.-based Evergreen Solar is building a $55.2 million plant in Midland’s Eastwick Industrial Park to create string for the company’s proprietary, low-cost String Ribbon wafer technology.