Maxeon names general manager for ABQ facility

Nov. 14—Maxeon Solar Technologies announced Tuesday that Donald Foldenauer will be the general manager of its Mesa Del Sol solar cell and module factory in Albuquerque.

The major solar industry leader earlier this year announced that it was making an immediate, $1 billion investment in a 1.9 million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Albuquerque. That, according to company officials, will ultimately create enough manufacturing capacity to produce three gigawatts of solar cells and panels, which is roughly enough generating capacity to power about 460,000 homes for a year.

It is expected to be the first large-scale photovoltaic cell and panel manufacturing facility in New Mexico, with a planned capacity of roughly double the largest silicon solar manufacturing facility currently operating in the country, according to a Maxeon news release.

Construction on the Maxeon facility is expected to start in the first quarter of 2024.

Before joining Maxeon, Foldenauer was the vice president of operations at Yield Engineering Systems as well as Jabil and Celestics. He has more than 35 years of experience managing diverse teams in the U.S. semiconductor, advanced materials and solar manufacturing sectors.

"We're excited to have Don take the helm of this critical expansion of our U.S. business as Maxeon seeks to play a pivotal role in developing a self-sufficient domestic solar supply chain. His experience in scaling manufacturing operations of advanced engineered products, creating new production lines, and building exceptional teams all make him a great fit with our ambitious growth plans," Maxeon CEO Bill Mulligan said in a statement.