SPI Energy, the global energy company that bought a list of contracts from bankrupt California solar installer PetersenDean, announced it has acquired the lease for the former Sunergy solar panel manufacturing plant in Sacramento, California, and expects to produce modules for the U.S. market by Q1 2022.
Sunergy California, the American manufacturing arm of China Sunergy Co., filed chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2021. The company manufactured CSUN and ASUN branded solar panels out of the 400-MW capacity factory in Sacramento.
SPI Energy, founded in 2006, is involved with EVs, solar and storage solutions and just recently moved its global headquarters from China to California. Through its divisions SolarJuice (residential solar provider), SPI Solar/Orange Power (commercial and utility solar provider) and EdisonFuture/Phoenix Motor EV (EV sales), SPI Energy has operations in North America, Australia, Asia and Europe.
When California solar installation company PetersenDean filed bankruptcy in 2020, SPI Energy and SolarJuice purchased a list of yet-to-built residential solar contracts from the former installer. SPI Energy also acquired the Solar4America name from PetersenDean.
In April 2021, SPI Energy launched a 360-W solar module under the Solar4America brand name. The company also launched an Amazon Store for Solar4America branded products.
Now with the acquisition of the former Sunergy plant, SPI Energy expects to begin production by Q1 2022 and expand to a manufacturing capacity of 1.1 GW in the second half of 2022.
“This represents a significant value add for SPI and our growing solar business,” stated Mr. Denton Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SPI Energy, in a press release. “With a two-decade history, we are one of the global pioneers in solar manufacturing. Now with this facility, we can further support our growth and the expanding green economy with a California-based solar module manufacturing facility that enables us to deliver Made-in-USA products.”
In September 2021, SPI Energy stated that a “leading home improvement retailer with over 300 stores across the United States” has placed a volume order for Solar4America products, with the intention of selling the products in the stores.
