Skip to content

Sault ideal for solar energy, says our newest manufacturer

For a short time yesterday, Sault Ste. Marie's brightest and newest green manufacturer emerged from the murky darkness of self-imposed secrecy. Heliene Canada Inc.
PereSoria2

For a short time yesterday, Sault Ste. Marie's brightest and newest green manufacturer emerged from the murky darkness of self-imposed secrecy.

Heliene Canada Inc. is currently setting up to manufacture high-efficiency, maximum-yield photovoltaic solar panels in the Sault, in partnership with Helios Energy of Spain (Heliene Europe).

The local company is headed by Martin Pochtaruk, a former senior manager at Tenaris Algoma Tubes and Essar Steel Algoma whose less-than-chivalrous treatment of Sault Ste. Marie's news organizations is becoming a frequent topic of discussion among area journalists and their editors. Yesterday, Pere Soria, Heliene's chief technology officer, appeared at a Business of Clean Tech workshop hosted by Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre at the Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel and Conference Centre. "I just want to say to you... that if I was one of my photovoltaic solar modules, I would like to live here in Sault Ste. Marie," Soria [shown] said.

Soria directed those remarks to Glen Martin, president and chief operating officer of POD Generating Group, who has spearheaded development of a $300 million solar farm in the City's West End.

Earlier this year, POD announced that it had sold the first phase of its local solar farm to U.S.- based Starwood Energy Group Global, LLC.

Soria remarked that the Sault's climate is perfect for generating electricity from the sun.

"Cold and sunshine are the perfect combination for generating photovoltaic solar energy," he said.

Based in Barcelona, Spain, Helios Energy has been part of a massive initiative that turned Spain from an energy importer to a green energy exporter in just a few years.

In Spain, the company focused largely on photovoltaic microsystems for installation on rooftops, Soria said.

But the new manufacturing plant it plans to open in Sault Ste. Marie will produce larger modules.

Heliene's approach to local corporate citizenship falls somewhat short, by North American standards, of respectful treatment of Sault Ste. Marie's media representatives.

However, President Pochtaruk enthused at considerable length on the company's plans and the benefits of being in Sault Ste. Marie in a recent interview with PV-Tech.org, a photovoltaics trade news operation based in the United Kingdom.

Pochtaruk told PV-Tech that Heliene Canada will be constructing a "completely new and greenfield 18,000 square-foot building, contiguous to the wind-farm administration offices," the website reported.

According to PV-Tech, Heliene expects to move into that building by July and start production by the first week of August.

To read the full text of the PV-Tech.org article, please click here.


What's next?


If you would like to apply to become a Verified reader Verified Commenter, please fill out this form.