October 15, 2007 – California solar firm XsunX Inc. has narrowed site selection for its planned 100MW thin-film photovoltaic solar module manufacturing facility to the state of Oregon, and is currently reviewing “several existing candidate properties” to meet general requirements for the operation. No financial estimates were provided.

The company had earlier indicated that the initial manufacturing line after a first phase of its new facility would produce ~17,000 solar modules in 2008, and planned completion of the full 100MW production facilities in 2009 would ramp to 950,000 modules annually.

In a statement, CEO Tom Djokovich noted that factors in choosing Oregon included a combination of operating incentives and credits, plus “low-cost financing opportunities.” COO Joseph Grimes added that there should be “a number of months” for upgrading the eventual building once orders for various manufacturing line components are received.

The decision to place a plant in Oregon comes days after XsunX indicated it signed a new customer for 60MW of module capacity from 2009-2011, and had engaged 19 other potential customers for review for its “solar module reservation program.” CEO Tom Djokovich noted in a statement that many US solar installation operators are keen to buy domestic solar modules in the hopes of swinging large government/defense contracts, while use of nontoxic materials is a key selling point to European customers.

Meanwhile, in China, DALU Polysilicon Co. Ltd. has held groundbreaking ceremonies for a new 18,000 metric ton/year polysilicon plant in Hohhot, China, to produce high-purity polysilicon for both electronic and photovoltaic customers. A phased construction starts at 2500 metric tons/year now. Partners in the project include Poly Plant Project and Silicon Chemical Corp. providing advanced process technology, and CH2M Hill Lockwood Greene for engineering design, project management and related services.