From pv magazine France
EDF EN, a unit of French energy giant EDF, is considering the liquidation of its subsidiary specializing in solar module production Photowatt. According to French financial newspaper LesEchos, the company's factory in Bourgoin-Jallieu, in France's southern region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, may be closed soon.
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council is mobilizing to save the factory and one of its members, Eric Fournier, which is also the regional councillor for Environment, sustainable development, energy and regional nature parks, said that an unspecified company headquartered in the region may be interested in acquiring Photowatt.
LesEchos also revealed that Photowatt had recently conducted a strategic review to explore all possible ways out of its difficult situation. The newspaper said that the reason for EDF's withdrawal from the solar module business was due to its difficult financial situation and the fact that PV is not its core business. “We will make every effort to find the best solution for PhotoWatt and its employees, in particular through industrial partnerships in France and abroad,” a company's spokesperson told pv magazine.
Photowatt was acquired by EDF in 2012. Photowatt was founded in 1979 and initially it produced solar cells for spatial applications.
*The article was updated on March 10 to add a statement from EDF.
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Photowatt should consider takeover by a Chinese solar cell manufacturer.