Sault solar panel manufacturer will have Spanish connection

Sault Ste. Marie is entering the North American solar panel supply chain market in a big way using some leading edge European-style technology.

Heliene Canada Inc., a startup solar module company, is quickly moving to set up a manufacturing plant in the city's west end and go into production by late summer with 40 employees.

It's led by a former Tenarus Tubes and Essar Steel Algoma senior manager who is behind the construction of an 17,000-square-foot plant on Allen's Side Road.

Martin Pochtaruk, president of Heliene Canada Inc., would not consent to an interview with Northern Ontario Business, saying he has been told to say nothing to local media until a provincial government funding announcement is made. But in an expansive interview with Photovoltaic International, an on-line solar industry publication, Pochtaruk said training for the plant's 40 employees begins in August with production starting up by month's end or early September.

The first modules will be shipped to customers in Ontario and U.S. Midwest begins in late August or September. Heliene Canada plant is the result of an alliance between a group of Sault businessmen and Helios Energy of Barcelona, Spain (Heliene Europe).

The facility will be located on a 14.5-acres greenfield site leased to Heliene by McRain Developments Inc. Terry Rainone, one of the McRain shareholders, said the plant is not affiliated with the proposed Pod solar farm in the city.

The plan is to move into a finished building by early July while equipment is being tested in Barcelona. Final installation will be during the first week of August.

Pochtaruk said the production line at the automated facility will initially start with a capacity of 30 megawatts annually.

"The plant is modular and can easily be expanded up to 80 megawatts," said Pochtaruk.

The Sault plant will have the capacity to produce multi-and monocrystalline silicon-based modules of 60 to 72 cells, capable of power outputs of 300 watts per panel. Testing and certification will be done before the plant is ready.

It's being marketed as high-efficiency, maximum yield photovoltaic solar panels.