SunSolar Energy has officially opened its 75MW module manufacturing facility in Oldbury, Birmingham.

The company teamed up with toolmaker Meyer Burger to install a production line capable of building 60- and 72-cell modules.

The facility which currently employs 150 people will employ 600 by 2015.

Cutting the ribbon, climate change minister Greg Barker said that the facility was “sending a strong signal for manufacturing in Britain today”.

During the ribbon cutting Barker also announced the launch of the new “ambitious Solar Strategy” adding that solar in the UK is “increasingly mature”.

“The coalition is publishing a real testament to the huge leap forward solar has made, and recently deployed in the UK.”

Barker said the UK is “not just deploying but have a strategy to reach out, and build the UK supply chain”.

Reza Shaybani, BPVA chairman added: “We are  delighted to see one of our members has set up a PV manufacturing here in the UK at such an exciting time in the industry. Now that the government is supporting the industry extremely well, it is time for the industry to also play its part and look forward to the future. As the UK has always been highly regarded for its manufacturing past we want to bring back manufacturing which will help grow the local and national economy, in turn creating more jobs.

“The BPVA is committed to the growth of the industry which will be achieved in not only deployment of solar PV but also in research and development, innovation, manufacturing, engineering and export opportunities. This project will be implemented over three phases with a start-up capacity of 35 MW, increased to 75 MW in phase two and 250MW by 2015.”