Renewable energy giant Iberdrola and the business group Exiom have formed an alliance to manufacture photovoltaic solar panels in Spain. The €20 million investment will create 115 jobs and establish the first large photovoltaic module manufacturing plant in Spain and one of the first on an industrial scale in Europe. The factory, located in the Spanish city Langreo, will begin operations later in 2023.
The partnership aims to make Spain a spearhead for leading the emerging sector of solar energy in Europe. The Asturian region of Langreo will host the site for the construction of the first large photovoltaic factory in Spain. Exiom, a 100% Spanish-owned manufacturer, will join Iberdrola in part of the value chain linked to renewable energies, reinforcing their commitment to the economic reactivation of mining areas.
The opening of this new factory in Spain responds to the interest of both companies in achieving competitive manufacturing at EU level, focused on solar panels with the possibility of extending the collaboration to other components of the photovoltaic value chain. The initiative also reinforces the commitment of both companies to the industrialisation associated with the energy transition.
Iberdrola‘s commitment to a sustainable energy model is part of its PERSEO program, which promotes the development of start-ups and innovative industrial companies working in new areas of electrification and in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise. The program has allocated €40 million through it’s Venture Builder, specifically to launch industrial initiatives that can be developed in the field of energy transition.
Exiom Group, a business group dedicated to photovoltaic energy with more than 14 years of experience in the sector, will contribute its knowledge of photovoltaic production processes to the partnership. With a workforce of about 300 employees, Exiom operates both in Spain and internationally, and has carried out 650 projects in the last year alone, covering photovoltaic developments, distribution and self-consumption, with a total capacity of 1 GW.