SunPower Corp. (SPWRA) recently teamed up with SunRay Renewable Energy to construct a 24MW solar electric power plant in Montalto di Castro, Italy. This project is the first phase of a planned 100MW development that is expected to be fully operational in 2010.

This would be Italy’s largest operating solar power plant after completion. Spread over 80 hectares, the Montalto di Castro project is owned by SunRay Renewable Energy. The company has engaged SunPower to design and construct the power plant apart from providing ongoing operations and maintenance services for the project. The project is being financed by a consortium of primary international and Italian. Electricity produced at the plant will find a ready market locally and any surplus will be added to Italy’s national electric grid.

SunPower is focused on tapping the rapidly expanding Italian solar market. Its 2008 acquisition of Solar Solutions, a solar systems integration and product distribution company based in Faenza, significantly helped the company to expand its dealer network in Italy.

Headquartered in San Jose, California, SunPower designs, develops, manufactures, markets and sells high-performance solar electric power technology products, systems and services worldwide for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. Its semiconductor-based solar cells and solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, are manufactured using proprietary processes and technologies.

SunPower operates through two business segments: Components and Systems. Its solar power products are sold through its Components segment. The Systems segment develops, engineers, manufactures and delivers large-scale solar power systems. We maintain our long-term Outperform rating on the shares.

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