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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Enel North America-3Sun USA Plan Inola, Oklahoma, Photovoltaic Cells-Modules Plant

05/24/2023
Enel North America, through its affiliate 3Sun USA, will establish its industrial-scale manufacturing facility in Inola, Oklahoma. The more than $1 billion project is expected to create approximately 1,000 jobs by 2025.

The factory will produce innovative, sustainable and American-made photovoltaic cells and modules and have an annual production capacity of 3 gigawatts. Construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2023 with the first panels available to the market by the end of 2024. The investment includes the potential for a second phase that would scale the factory to reach 6 GW of annual production.

"We are proud to help usher in a new era of American-made energy and do so with a state that is already a leader in the energy industry. Our selection of Oklahoma is a testament to the strength of the Tulsa Port of Inola site, the state's commitment to workforce development, and an attractive investment climate," said Giovanni Bertolino, head of 3Sun USA. "With this announcement, we are taking a major step forward in developing a state-of-the-art PV factory, bringing hundreds of jobs and millions in long-term tax revenue, while moving Oklahoma to the forefront of renewables manufacturing."

The project is subject to final approvals, necessary permits and economic incentive agreements. The facility will be among the first in the U.S. to produce solar cells, the fundamental building block of PV modules, and will incorporate a high-performance bifacial heterojunction technology, according to company officials.

"This is the largest economic development project in state history, bringing over a billion in investment into our state and hundreds of long-term jobs. It was a group effort to get this over the finish line, and we are thankful for the Governor, the Legislature, the Tulsa Port of Inola Industrial Park, Tulsa Regional Chamber and SelectUSA for coming alongside the Department of Commerce to get this deal done. The success of this project proves what we've known for a long time, Oklahoma can support mega projects, both in terms of sites and workforce, and this gives us exciting momentum as we seek more projects like this one,” Brent Kisling, Executive Director, Department of Commerce noted.

Enel North America is an American company headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts. One of the largest renewable energy operators in North America, the company was formed as a subsidiary of the global utility Enel S.p.A. in 2000.

"This project got off the ground last May when the Tulsa Regional Chamber and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce held meetings with an Enel executive during the PGA Men's Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. So, it speaks directly to how tourism can be the perfect gateway to economic development. Enel North America has a global reputation for blazing new trails with clean energy, and this long-term commitment to Oklahoma as a solar panel supplier will shine a light on the Port of Inola and its ability to accommodate large-scale development,” Arthur Jackson, senior vice president of economic development for the Tulsa Regional Chamber added.

3Sun Gigafactory combines research and innovation to produce new-generation photovoltaic modules that support the Enel Group in guaranteeing clean and renewable energy and building a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly world.

"Tulsa Ports is proud to welcome Enel's 3Sun solar panel manufacturing facility to the Tulsa Port of Inola. At the end of 2019, Public Service Company of Oklahoma transferred 2,200 acres of industrial land to Tulsa Ports so that we could develop the necessary infrastructure to attract high-impact economic development projects. With this exciting announcement, we are continuing to fulfill that shared vision and believe that Enel will be a great partner for the long-term economic success and development of the Tulsa Region and the State of Oklahoma,” Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr., Board Chairman, Tulsa Ports said.

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