New England solar companies to rival China

New England solar energy companies wants to compete with China in producing cheap solar panels.

According to the Boston Globe, Stellaris of North Billerica is using less photovoltaic material to devise new solar panels with a plastic case that directs sunlight to the photovoltaic material. GT Solar, Spire Corporation and BTU International have offices across from Stellaris where they manufacture equipment to sell to factories that make solar panels.

"Our first Chinese customer bought $300-million-plus of technology from us," said Kedar Gupta, founder of Merrimack, New Hampshire-based GT Solar. "The Chinese all had very big projects in mind, and slowly they started succeeding against the European and American companies making solar panels."

Marlborough has Evergreen Solar, which makes solar power products. Konarka Technologies in New Bedford will soon generate a higher volume of flexible solar panels for awnings, backpacks and umbrellas. Lexington has 1366 Technologies, which intends to introduce innovative methods to create silicon solar wafers, the core component of a solar panel.