Solar EnerTech to build second plant

Menlo Park, Calif.-based Solar EnerTech (OTC BB: SOEN) said today that it plans to build a second solar cell manufacturing plant in Shanghai, citing a rise in second quarter demand for its products.

The company said the new 20,000 square foot facility will be just minutes away from its current plant in Shanghai's Jin Qiao Technology Park.

"It'll give us room to grow, and improve production logistics, increase overall efficiency and simply make plant management more effective," said Jack Yin, Solar EnerTech's chief operating officer.

The company said it plans to relocate its solar module production to the new facility, using the current, larger plant for solar cell manufacturing.

Solar EnerTech said the move would double its manufacturing capacity.

The current 42,000 square foot plant is capable of producing 25 megawatts of solar cells from its existing production line and another 25 MW from its first expansion lines, the company said.

Earlier this year, Solar EnerTech signed a 5-year sales agreement with Italy's ErgonSolair-WonlexTech Group and also made a 2 MW sales and OEM agreement with Shanghai Very Sun Technologies worth $8 million (see Solar EnerTech's new $8M sale and OEM agreement).

Construction started today at Solar EnerTech's new site, with production expected to start by Nov. 15 of this year.

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