Our history
America's solar pioneer. Made in the USA since 1975.
The year 1975 marked the debut of microcomputers, the game show “Wheel of Fortune” and Bruce Springsteen’s now-classic “Born to Run” album. It was also the year the Southern California legacy operations of SolarWorld introduced a new way of manufacturing, harnessing and distributing power that could potentially provide answers for Americans wary of inflation and rising energy costs.
Our work and innovation helped launch an iconic era of alternative energy. Flash-forward 35-plus years, and solar is now part of our everyday vocabulary. The workforce of SolarWorld is proud to have been here from the beginning. In fact, we have grown to become the largest U.S. manufacturer of solar panels and we remain committed to sourcing, manufacturing, assembling and hiring right here on our own soil.
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Engineer and entrepreneur Bill Yerkes creates Solar Technology International.
Solar Technology International acquired by Atlantic Richfield, CO., forming ARCO Solar. In Camarillo, Calif., ARCO Solar dedicates world's largest PV factory to making silicon crystal ingots, wafers, photovoltaic cells and modules. ARCO Solar becomes first company to produce more than 1 megawatt of PV modules in one year. ARCO Solar commissions world's first 1 MW grid-connected PV installation. Australia's University of New South Wales creates silicon cells with 20% efficiency in laboratory. Siemens acquires ARCO Solar, forming Siemens Solar. Siemens Solar celebrates 100 MW of installed power from modules made in Camarillo. Siemens becomes first company to offer 25-year warranty. SolarWorld forms as startup business, entering Germany's burgeoning solar market. Germany requires utilities to pay "feed-in tariffs" at fixed premium rates to owners of solar systems for power contributed into grid. Royal Dutch Shell acquires Siemens Solar, creating Shell Solar. SolarWorld acquires Shell Solar. Investors begin offering free installation in return for long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), which become common financing arrangements. SolarWorld opens 480,000 square-foot plant in Hillsboro, investing $500 million to establish 500 MW of annual capacity and 1,000 employees there. SolarWorld continues to be a leader in solar manufacturing in America as one of the only solar companies that manufactures from raw materials to finished panels in American factories. |
We create American jobs, buy products from American companies and advance American technology. All as we help businesses operate more efficiently and cost-effectively, and move our country closer to achieving clean energy independence.
Like our commercial clients, SolarWorld continually pushes the limits of innovation. We pride ourselves on consistently meeting or exceeding America’s high environmental and employment standards.
At the same time, we are committed to managing our resources wisely so that we can lower costs and maximize the return on investment for our business partners.
Partner with SolarWorld. Invest in the future of your business.