By Kari Williamson

The Mexican company will construct a CPV solar system manufacturing plant and use the panels produced for a 10 MW solar farm – all to be located in the Silicon Border CleanTECH Park in Mexicali, Mexico.

The formation of the company has sprung out of an agreement between Baja Sun and Arima Solar under which Arima becomes a stakeholder and supplier of CPV solar technology, gallium arsenide semiconductors and other materials to Baja Sun.

Initial plans include investments of more than US$500 million over the next four years and the CPV solar factory will be built out to over 100 MW annually with over 4240 direct employees.

Baja says the company will break ground on the new factory at Silicon Border CleanTECH Park later this year using a CPV solar manufacturing equipment line from Arima to manufacture cells, modules and dual axis tracking systems.

The Mexican employees will be trained in the Arima Eco factory in Taiwan. The total supply chain could ultimately create more than 8000 jobs for the Baja California/San Diego Mega Region.

Arima Group Chairman, Steven Lee, says: “We are very optimistic about this new venture that will expand our product reach to the Americas while we cover Asia and the rest of the world. While we are confident that the experienced team of Baja Sun can do the job with our support, we find that the Government support for this project and Arima Eco ensures the success of this exciting project. In our travels to Mexico we were greeted by the Governor himself on our first trip to Mexico. Here he is today to help close the deal! We also had great support from the Mayor of Mexicali and the Federal Government’s ProMexico Organization, from the local Commissioner of Trade here in Taiwan to the Director General himself. Mexico has really supported our decision!”