Canadian energy company Etrion Corporation (TSX: ETX) and U.S.-based solar manufacturer SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWRA) (NASDAQ:SPWRB) today announced an agreement to build four solar power plants in the Puglia region of southern Italy.

SunPower has more than 500 megawatts of solar power plants installed or under contract around the world, including Italian power plants in Milan and Faenza. In regards to today’s announced projects, SunPower is responsible for the design and construction of the plants, and will provide operations and maintenance services as needed.

Entrion’s CEO Marco Northland said SunPower’s market experience will enable the companies to meet their goals and finish the projects.

“Solar power generation will play an increasingly vital role in our efforts to build more renewable, clean energy sources. SunPower’s experienced approach to solar power plant design and construction will allow us to quickly and reliably complete these important projects,” Northland stated in the press release.

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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

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