Camarillo Firm Sends Solar Cells to Argentina
Siemens Solar Industries, based in Camarillo, has begun shipping solar cells to Argentina from a newly opened office in Boca Raton, Fla.
Siemens is shipping the cells as part of a $2.4-million project to power rural schools in Argentina. The Florida unit will support a growing demand for solar products throughout Latin America. According to Siemens, the area is ranked by analysts as the solar industry’s fastest growing market.
The Argentine project, based in Santa Fe, Argentina, will provide electricity to remote schools in areas not connected to electrical utility grids.
“The receipt of this order underscores the tremendous market opportunities for photovoltaic, or solar electric, products in Latin America,” said Elias Behar, Siemens’ Latin American regional manager.
Siemens and its Argentine partner, Solartec, have been working together since 1988 to develop the solar market in that country. Under the arrangement, Solartec claims to have supplied 90% of all photovoltaic systems installed in Argentina.
The cell modules are typically used for electrification of remote homes and villages and for powering telecommunications relay stations, water pumping systems and electric fences.
The Florida office will unify Siemens’ sales efforts throughout Latin America.
Siemens Solar, a unit of Germany’s Siemens AG electronics giant, claims to be the world’s largest producer of solar cells ad modules. The Camarillo firm says more than 70% of its products are exported worldwide.
