News

2023-10-06 14:58:00.0

Iberdrola and Exiom receive the first shipment of machinery for their solar panel factory

  • The first equipment for the production of photovoltaic modules has arrived on site.
  • With an investment of 20 million euros and the creation of 115 jobs, the first large photovoltaic module manufacturing plant in Spain and one of the first on an industrial scale in Europe will be located in Asturias.
  • The initiative, which reinforces the commitment of both companies to the economic reactivation of the mining areas, will promote industrialisation associated with the energy transition.

Iberdrola and the Asturian business group Exiom continue their steps towards the materialisation of the project announced at the beginning of the year for a solar panel factory in the Asturian municipality of Langreo. This week, the first equipment for the production of photovoltaic modules was unloaded.

This is the first batch of specialised machinery that has been received at the facility, consisting mostly of laminating machines, which are necessary for one of the main processes in the manufacture of this type of product.

At the same time, on the site, located in the municipality of Langreo, work is continuing on the refurbishment of the factory's infrastructures, adapting the former steel industry facilities to a production line that will have a capacity of 500 MW of photovoltaic panels per year.

Exiom-Iberdrola agreement to manufacture panels

The project arose following a strategic alliance in February 2023 between Exiom and Iberdrola, through which both companies seek to lead the manufacture of solar panels in Spain. The factory will become the first large photovoltaic module plant in the country and will also be one of the pioneers in Europe.

The planned investment amounts to 20 million euros, contributing to the economic reactivation of the mining basins through the creation of 115 direct jobs in the area.

The agreement with Exiom responds to Iberdrola's efforts to attract part of the value chain linked to renewable energies to Spain. Specifically, solar energy. The aim is to make Spain a spearhead for leading this emerging sector in Europe. 

Exiom is also a 100% Spanish-owned manufacturer, with origins in Asturias itself, and one of the only European groups to appear on the prestigious list of Tier 1 manufacturers.

The opening of this new factory in Europe responds to the interest of both companies in achieving competitive manufacturing at EU level, focused in a first phase on solar panels with the possibility of extending the collaboration to other components of the photovoltaic value chain.

Furthermore, the initiative reinforces the commitment of both companies to industrialisation associated with the energy transition as reflected in the 'Green Deal Industrial Plan', recently presented by the European Commission.

PERSEO Iberdrola Ventures, 15 years innovating with start-ups and industrial businesses

Iberdrola's commitment to a sustainable energy model is part of its PERSEO programme to promote the development of start-ups and innovative industrial companies working in new areas of electrification and in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise.

40 million, through the Perseo Venture Builder, specifically to launch industrial initiatives that can be developed in the field of energy transition.

Since its creation in 2008, PERSEO has invested 175 million euros in businesses that develop innovative technologies, focusing on those that improve the sustainability of the energy sector through further electrification and decarbonisation of the economy.

About Exiom Group

Exiom Group is a business group dedicated to photovoltaic energy with more than 14 years of experience in the sector. It has a workforce of around 300 employees and operates both in Spain and internationally.

Exiom has carried out 650 projects in the last year alone, both at home and abroad, covering photovoltaic developments, distribution and self-consumption, with a total capacity of 1 GW, thus contributing to the development of photovoltaic energy.

It currently has two solar panel manufacturing centres in China, thanks to which it has acquired sufficient experience and knowledge of the production processes. In addition, it also has a steel structure factory for photovoltaic parks, located in Langreo.

With all this, it has reached a turnover of more than 200 million euros by 2022, making it one of the leading companies in the sector and with a very significant growth projection in a sector as booming as the photovoltaic sector.