23/8/2007

A new solar panel manufacturing factory is being launched in Pencoed, near Bridgend.

In a new partnership between Solarcentury, a privately-held London company, and Sony UK, the production line will be built by Sony UK.

Solarcentury says it plans to manufacture and sell approximately $24 million in solar panels in the coming year, and it has set a goal of installing solar systems on 11,000 homes annually.

Lembit Opik, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and MP for Montgomeryshire, said today: "The global solar photovoltaics industry is expected to grow at 30% per year over the next few years so this new plant should have a long and prosperous life.

"This deal is further evidence of the growing green economy and the rising demand for low carbon technologies.

"Wales stands to gain significantly from this new green economy with thousands of new jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds in investment. But Labour is failing to capitalise on this golden opportunity.

"The Government needs to provide real incentives for people to install microgneration devices. More research funding should be aimed at new green technologies and further failures to drive down carbon emissions and meet renewable energy targets cannot be tolerated."