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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. Headquartered in San Francisco, our primary US facility is in Frederick, Maryland. The facility is the center of our US manufacturing, product development, technology and sales and marketing.
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.
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 San Francisco, CA includes sales and marketing and application engineering personnel.
90 New Montgomery St.
Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94105

Distributors, resellers, dealers

BP Solar's distributors, resellers, and dealers are some of the most experienced and best qualified in the business.
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