Sencera To Build Thin Film Plant in North Carolina

Sencera International Corporation, a manufacturer of thin film solar modules is expanding in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company plans to invest $36.8 million during the next three years to construct a solar module facility that will produce solar cells and assemble them into photovoltaic panels. Total manufacturing capacity will exceed 38 megawatts (MW) by 2011.

The company’s solar jobs will expand from its current level of 10 employees to approximately 75. Sencera’s headquarters and present operations will move to the new facility.

"We considered several different states and foreign countries. We’re glad we can remain in Charlotte. The Charlotte Chamber was extremely helpful in shepherding us through this process," said Britt Weaver, COO of Sencera, "We’re grateful that our state and local public officials recognize the potential of both our company and what the solar industry brings to the city of Charlotte and North Carolina."

Sencera, which has been headquartered in Charlotte, develops and manufactures amorphous and microcrystalline thin film solar modules using its proprietary Viper plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition platform. The company also operates a research and development laboratory serving the solar energy industry.

Sencera received a $62,000 One North Carolina Fund grant as well as local incentives from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

The One North Carolina Fund assists the state in industry recruitment and expansion by providing financial incentives to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. One North Carolina Fund Grants require and are contingent upon local matching funds. Over a three-year period the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County match is projected to be a total of $1,039,721, which represents 90% of what the company will pay in property taxes during that time. Other partners that helped make this announcement possible include the Charlotte Regional Partnership, the local NC Department of Commerce office and Duke Energy.