Solar power plant opens next month in Greenville

via Everything Michigan

In the rush to open its first Greenville solar-power plant, United Solar Ovonic did not slow down for a celebratory ribbon-cutting, a stirring salute from the marching band or a handshake from the governor.

Instead, the Auburn Hills firm quietly launched production Nov. 1, a month early, in a race to fill orders as fast as they roll in.

The company plans two local plants, each with two production lines --although the campus can accommodate up to six solar-film factories.

"We are in a very large market opportunity, with an excellent product for selling onto rooftops. We're selling out," said Mike Morelli, new president and chief executive of parent company Energy Conversion Devices Inc.

Morelli, who joined the company in September, formerly was president of Carrier commercial refrigeration, a division of United Technologies Inc.

In two months, Morelli has taken charge of the solar-film sector, locking in on the high-growth, high-profit potential side of the inventive company. The first quarter ended Sept. 30, and orders this quarter already outpace available capacity, he said.

Nearly 90 percent of the company's first-quarter sales were for solar-power flexible film, commonly termed PV, or photovoltaic, laminates.

Sales were $47 million, with the solar sector selling $41.9 million of that total. That's a 31 percent increase from the previous quarter and 76 percent over this time last year.

Demand for the Uni-Solar laminates is growing in the U.S., Italy, Germany and South Korea.

The hectic pace of construction combined with a major turnover of leadership led to a $7.6 million loss, or 19 cents per share. Restructuring costs hit $2.5 million, while another $2.5 million went for plant costs and support for the booming solar business.

Morelli vowed the company would reach a profit and stay in the black by June, the end of fiscal 2008.

He is overseeing another seismic change, telling investors the company is moving from research and invention to profitable production.

The upbeat outlook sounds sweet in a community with one of the state's highest unemployment rates.

When Greenville's Electrolux AB refrigerator plant moved to Mexico two years ago, 2,700 people lost their jobs and Montcalm County became a poster child for the downside of globalization.

Greenville weathered those losses.

Now, City Manager George Bosanic is more than pleased with the new company in town.

"It's just been a wonderful experience. It's actually fun to work with them, and we're working very, very hard," he said.

"We stand ready to do whatever it takes to enable them to look at Greenville for further expansion."

All the solar film produced now is destined for commercial rooftops, including a roof for a General Motors Corp. plant in Fontana, Calif. But residential applications are in the works.