Tesla, Panasonic to Begin Solar Panel Production in New York

There is so much good news in this story.  First, great to see Tesla continue to diversify their revenue base and take advantage of the technology they have helped create.  Second, we love seeing corporate collaboration.  This looks like a great partnership.

Third, new jobs to a depressed area...Buffalo NY.  And jobs that take advantage of their industrial history and base.  Fourth, the continued investment in renewables, this time by an overseas company funding job growth in the US, is very heartening.  The seeds of new economic growth are being planted today right there on the banks of the banks of Lake Erie.

Finally, in concert with their joint effort in Nevada to build batteries, the Buffalo production of solar will marry the two technologies to bring large-scale supplies to consumers.  Great step forward.



Production at Buffalo plant to begin in summer next year


Move underscores deepening ties between the companies

Tesla Motor Inc and Panasonic Corp. will begin production of solar cells and modules next year at a plant in Buffalo, New York.


Production will begin in the summer, with the factory’s output capacity expanding to 1 gigawatt by 2019, the companies said in a statement Tuesday. Panasonic will invest more than 30 billion yen ($256 million) on the installation of production equipment, Yayoi Watanabe, a spokeswoman for the Osaka-based company, said by phone. The total investment was not disclosed in the statement.

The announcement underscores deepening ties between the two companies. They are jointly building a $5 billion lithium-ion gigafactory in Nevada to produce batteries for electric cars and energy storage products for homes and utilities. In October, Tesla revealed plans to work with Panasonic to make solar cells and modules for solar-roof installer SolarCity Corp. -- a company Tesla acquired last month for $2 billion.
“When production of the solar roof begins, Tesla will also incorporate Panasonic’s cells into the many kinds of solar glass tile roofs that Tesla will be manufacturing,” according to the statement. Tesla chairman Elon Musk revealed plans for solar roofs made of glass tiles in October.


Solar components from the Buffalo plant will also work seamlessly with Tesla’s energy storage devices such as Powerwall and Powerpack, the companies said.