Sunsolar has announced plans to build a solar photovoltaics manufacturing facility in Oldbury, in the West Midlands.
Due to open at the end of October, the plant will create around 600 new jobs and be capable of producing 30MW of new panels each year.

Sunsolar has received a £5m government grant, backed by Sandwell Council and the Regional Growth Fund, which will be combined with a £5m investment from the company.

The new plant will produce polycrystalline and monocrystalline PV modules, with range of module outputs, from 200W to 350W. Modules will be manufactured and sold under the Sunsolar brand.

Speaking to the Solar Power Portal, Rob Grant, Sunsolar's business manager, said: 'To be able to create a factory environment that will not only employ local suppliers to work with, but create new jobs and offer viable and inexpensive energy sources to the UK, is something we're extremely excited about.'

In addition to the new Oldbury facility, Sunsolar is also planning to invest in another 10 UK plants, according to Mr Grant, and is currently looking for a 10-acre site for a purpose-built PV manufacturing and R&D facility.

Responding to the announcement, Greg Barker, Minister for Energy and Climate Change, said: 'This announcement is fantastic news for Oldbury, bringing new jobs and investment, and a huge vote of confidence in the outlook for the solar industry in the UK. I want to see many more UK businesses taking the lead in the growing global market for green energy.'

Although the modules will be initially manufactured for the UK market, as the business grows and worldwide tariffs come into place, the company aims to extend its distribution worldwide.