Bila Solar Launches, Announces Innovative Solar PV Module Manufacturing Plant in Indianapolis
Pioneers of ultra-lightweight solar modules to invest approximately $35 million to create
urban manufacturing hub, expanding new opportunities for solar in the U.S.
Indianapolis, Ind.—August 29, 2023 — Bila Solar (Bila), an innovative solar energy company manufacturing groundbreaking solutions to transform and power the world, launched today and announced plans to open a state-of-the-art solar module manufacturing facility in Indianapolis. The venture will create nearly 250 jobs and revitalize a long-neglected economic sector in the United States – urban manufacturing.
Bila’s new factory will be capable of producing a yearly capacity of one gigawatt (GW) of innovative glassless, frameless solar modules – an output akin to crafting around 5,000 high-capacity modules daily. The company will invest upwards of $35 million in Indianapolis to renovate an existing 150,000-square-foot facility (1249 S. White River Parkway East Drive, Indianapolis, IN) and employ 240 people once fully operational. Bila plans to begin production in the summer of 2024. With its factory based in Indianapolis, Bila has also designated the city as the location for its U.S. headquarters, situated within the same building.
“We are thrilled to begin the Bila Solar journey in Indianapolis,” said Mick McDaniel, VP & US General Manager of Bila Solar. “We’re bringing to the U.S. market ultralight modules that go where traditional solar panels can’t go. In Indianapolis, we found a central urban location, a diverse workforce and an entrepreneurial spirit – ideal for our out-of-the-box approach to making clean energy attainable for all.”
“Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is strong, and we’re excited to welcome Bila Solar to our growing network of innovators advancing products that power the world,” said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “With Bila’s new Indianapolis manufacturing operation, Indiana’s skilled workforce will be making solar energy more accessible and powering our growing clean energy sector to new heights.”
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the solar industry is expected to nearly triple in cumulative deployment by 2028, as the IRA, in addition to state and local incentives, provides key tax incentives and long-term certainty that will spark demand for solar and storage and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
“We’re grateful and proud to join the growing number of clean energy companies ramping up to transform the American economy – creating thousands of new jobs with technologies and solutions that will contribute to a more sustainable future for all,” added McDaniel.
Bila’s debut product is a lightweight solar module that combines the reliability and high efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells with the lightness of specially designed and patented aerospace composites. Weighing just 30 percent of regular glass panels and 95 percent slimmer, these modules can be employed in various challenging applications, including low load-bearing commercial and industrial roofs, waterproof membrane roofs, integration into vehicles for solar power, off-grid energy utilization and even curved surfaces. This breakthrough increases access to solar opportunities previously out of reach for glass modules, accelerating the transition to clean energy.
“Solar energy should be accessible and abundant for everyone,” continued McDaniel. “We look forward to driving innovation in Indiana to pursue that mission.”
The real estate transaction was facilitated by CBRE on behalf of Bila Solar and Cushman & Wakefield for the building’s landlord, Forest Creek Ventures and William Tres Development. Site Selection Group assisted Bila Solar with procuring state and local incentives for this exciting project.
About Bila Solar
Bila Solar is an innovative solar energy company that manufactures groundbreaking solutions to transform and power the world, driving evolution in the renewable energy sector. The company’s flagship product – ultralight solar modules – transcends traditional limitations by enabling installations on low load-bearing roofs and curved surfaces, locations where traditional solar modules can’t go.
Based in Singapore, the company’s U.S. headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Ind. Learn more at bilasolar.com, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter and Threads.
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