ReCreate, a new company launched by leaders from two established renewable energy firms, plans to build a solar cell and panel manufacturing plant in Tennessee with an annual capacity of up to 5 GW.
Renewable Energy Leaders Launch ReCreate
ReCreate is the latest venture from Dean Solon—founder, CEO, and president of the Portland-based renewable energy firm Create Energy—and Hamlet Tunyan, CEO of RECOM Technologies.
RECOM produces a full suite of PV modules, cells, inverters, hybrid storage systems, batteries, and electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
Dean Solon and Hamlet Tunyan at Create Energy’s Rocket Room, Portland, Tennessee (Image: ReCreate)
New Factory to be Built in Portland, Tennessee
The new factory will be built at Create Energy’s mega-plant in Portland, Tennessee, with a planned annual output of up to 5 GW of modules and 5 GW of cells for the North American and European markets.
“We’re thrilled to launch this new venture and provide top-quality, American-made solar solutions. At Create Energy, our mission is to revolutionize the renewables market by offering comprehensive solutions for solar, BESS, and eMobility projects. ReCreate aims to set the benchmark in the solar module and cell markets,” said Solon.
Create Energy offers transformers, switchgear, PV, BESS, and EV solutions as well as comprehensive turnkey EPC services. RECOM, a European manufacturer with an annual production capacity exceeding 3.2 GW and sales in over 110 countries, recently partnered with Solar Optimum to supply PV modules for a 12.4-MW solar carport system at the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Los Angeles.
Commitments to Renewable Energy
A prominent figure in the European renewables sector, Tunyan brings decades of experience in clean-tech manufacturing, project investment, and development. Under his leadership, RECOM Technologies integrates R&D, manufacturing, and distribution, with sales spanning more than 110 countries.
Discussing the collaboration, Tunyan said, “This project marks a major step forward in our dedication to renewable energy and innovation. By manufacturing in the USA, we support the local economy and establish new industry benchmarks. Teaming up with Dean Solon, whose expertise and vision are unmatched, strengthens our ability to provide outstanding solar solutions and foster significant change in the energy sector.”
Economic and Industry Impact
Driven by the combined expertise and vision of its founders, ReCreate is positioned to become a leading provider of solar solutions. The company is also committed to fostering growth and innovation across the broader renewable energy sector.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 has boosted solar manufacturing in the U.S. by providing production tax credits for manufacturers and investment tax credits for project developers using domestic content.
According to Wood Mackenzie, the U.S. is expected to have 144 GW of module, 71 GW of cell, and 61 GW of wafer manufacturing capacity by 2027. This represents a substantial increase from the current 26 GW of module capacity and negligible wafer and cell production. ReCreate’s planned 5 GW of capacity for both cells and modules will add significantly to this domestic supply.