Skip Navigation - jump to content
Search

BP Solar in the US

Front of Frederick Maryland production facility
BP Solar is one of the largest solar manufacturers in North America and worldwide. At our headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, we have more than 500 employees, speaking 39 languages in a facility that operates around the clock
In the US, we provide top quality solar power solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications, marketing our products through local sales and engineering teams.
BP Solar Home Solutions® systems can be purchased through selected The Home Depot stores or through one of our qualified dealers.
Our BP Solar Energy Solutions are available for large commercial businesses and local government facilities around the country.
Our range of small area solar modules is also sold through our network of distributors, dealers, and resellers.

Facts and figures

  • Frederick, Maryland is the North American headquarters for BP Solar product development, technology, sales & marketing, and manufacturing.
  • We’re doubling our silicon wafer production capacity to 150MW to supply customers throughout North America and around the world
  • Our $25 million facility expansion was completed in 2005
  • All products have ISO 14001 environmental certification and ISO 9001 quality process certification
  • Our on-site wastewater treatment and point-of-use reclamation facilities save over 50,000 gallons of water per year through reduction, reuse, and recycling
  • In the past five years, we have more than doubled wafer production, improving our water utilization by 20% and reducing our electricity consumption per unit by over 10%
Solar panels

Heritage

BP Solar’s heritage in the solar industry began in 1973.

BP Solar US – milestones

1973
  • Solarex Corporation is formed to commercialize terrestrial PV
1977
  • Solarex initiates Polycrystalline process
1982
  • Solarex constructs the Frederick, MD, USA manufacturing plant
1983
  • Amoco Oil Company purchases Solarex Corporation
1984
  • Solarex purchases Exxon's Solar Power Corporation
1985
  • Solarex 300 kW PV array installed at the Georgetown University Intercultural Center – the world’s largest building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) system at the time
1987
  • Solarex consolidates several manufacturing plants into Frederick, MD, USA facility
  • Solarex introduces the "Mega" cell: 114mm x 114mm. Results in a 30% increase in solar efficiency from the previous industry standard of 100mm x 100mm
1990
  • Solarex initiates international distribution network
1994
  • Solarex polycrystalline business becomes profitable
1995
  • Solarex becomes a business unit of Amoco/Enron Solar, a partnership of Amoco Oil Corporation and Enron Corporation
1996 - 1999
  • BP introduces ‘Plug in the Sun’ - an initiative to equip BP gas/petrol stations around the world with solar systems
1999
  • BP Solar and Solarex merge to form BP Solarex
2001
  • BP Solarex changes name to BP Solar
2002
  • BP Solar exits thin film technology to better focus on core markets and current technologies
2005
  • BP creates a new low-carbon power business, BP Alternative Energy, and increases investment in renewable energies including solar, wind, hydrogen and combined-cycle-gas-turbine (CCGT) power generation
BP solar sign

US locations

BP Solar North America has sales and marketing offices in California and in Maryland.
Our office in Frederick, Maryland includes sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing and administrative staff and is located within our North American factory.

630 Solarex Court
Frederick, MD 21703
Our office in Suisun City, California includes sales and marketing and application engineering personnel.

One Harbor Center, Suite 190
Suisun City, CA 94585

Distributors, resellers, dealers

BP Solar's distributors, resellers, and dealers are some of the most experienced and best qualified in the business.
Back to Top
  © 1996-2009 BP p.l.c. |