BP Solar
A former BP photovoltaic manufacturing and solar-project business that operated internationally before BP exited the solar-energy business in 2011.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
BP Solar was BP's photovoltaic manufacturing and project-development business, focused on solar cells, photovoltaic modules, and the installation of complete solar-energy systems. The business was headquartered in Madrid, Spain, and operated through manufacturing, research, joint-venture, and project activities in several regions, including the United States, India, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It is now defunct: BP announced its departure from the solar-energy business in December 2011, and BP Solar closed on 21 December of that year. The business developed from BP's entry into photovoltaics during the early 1980s. In 1981, BP acquired an initial 50 percent stake in Lucas Energy Systems, a business that subsequently operated as Lucas BP Solar Systems. BP acquired full ownership during the middle of the decade. This created the foundation for a solar operation inside the wider BP group at a time when photovoltaic technology was still principally associated with specialized, off-grid, telecommunications, rural-electrification, and demonstration applications rather than mass-market utility generation. BP Solar expanded its manufacturing and international reach through acquisitions and partnerships. In 1989, it formed Tata BP Solar with Tata Power in India. The joint venture began commercial activity in 1991, opening an Indian manufacturing plant with an initial capacity of 3 megawatts. Tata BP Solar later became an important Indian photovoltaic manufacturing business. BP eventually left that joint venture in 2012, after which it became wholly owned by the Tata Group. BP's acquisition of Amoco in 1998 brought Amoco's 50 percent interest in Solarex into the group. BP acquired Enron's interest in Solarex in 1999 and combined its photovoltaic operations under the BP Solarex name. The consolidation made the business a major global photovoltaic producer; the reference material describes it as the world's leading photovoltaic producer in 1999. In 2001, the division adopted the BP Solar name. The company combined module production with project development and installation. Its modules were used in photovoltaic power plants such as the 5-megawatt Bürstadt plant in Germany, the 4.59-megawatt Springerville plant in Arizona, the 4-megawatt Geiseltalsee plant in Germany, and the 32-megawatt Long Island project in New York. BP Solar also supplied systems for rural and remote applications. Reported initiatives included electricity provision for approximately 36,000 rural homes in Indonesia, the installation of 1,000 solar devices serving 400 remote villages in the Philippines, and a rural-electrification program for 30,000 remote homes in Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia. In Sierra Leone, BP installed solar power for microwave repeater stations during telecommunications-network restoration work in the mid-1980s. Research and energy-storage activities formed another part of the business's history. BP sold its research-and-development operation in 2004 to the UK's National Renewable Energy Centre, now associated with the organization that later became Solar Capture Technologies. BP Solar and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation also worked on GreenGel, a long-life deep-cycle lead-acid battery intended for renewable remote-area power systems. The work addressed capacity loss and premature failure in off-grid storage applications and sought to establish a commercially competitive manufacturing process. Despite its earlier expansion, BP Solar was ultimately discontinued as BP reassessed its alternative-energy portfolio. BP closed its Frederick, Maryland, factory in 2010 and announced in 2011 that it would leave the solar-energy business. The closure ended BP Solar as an operating brand, although some related assets, joint ventures, research activities, and projects continued under other owners or successor organizations.
History
BP Solar originated in BP's acquisition of an interest in Lucas Energy Systems in 1981. BP initially bought 50 percent of the business, which became known as Lucas BP Solar Systems, and later acquired the remaining ownership during the mid-1980s. The transaction gave BP an established platform in photovoltaic technology and created the corporate lineage from which BP Solar developed. The business pursued international manufacturing and deployment as photovoltaic systems found applications in rural electrification, telecommunications, remote power, and emerging grid-connected projects. In 1989, BP Solar and Tata Power created Tata BP Solar in India. Commercial operations began in 1991 with a manufacturing facility whose initial production capacity was 3 megawatts. The joint venture connected BP's photovoltaic technology and international experience with Tata's Indian industrial presence. BP remained involved until its exit in 2012; Tata BP Solar then became a wholly owned Tata Group company. BP's broader corporate transactions substantially reshaped its photovoltaic operations. The 1998 merger with Amoco brought Amoco's 50 percent interest in Solarex into BP. In 1999, BP acquired Enron's interest in Solarex and consolidated its photovoltaic divisions into BP Solarex. The combined operation was described in the reference material as the world's leading photovoltaic producer in that year. In 2001, it changed its name to BP Solar, which became the principal public-facing identity for BP's solar-cell, module, installation, and project activities. The company operated production facilities in Frederick, Maryland, as well as India and China, and maintained its headquarters in Madrid. Its commercial scope extended beyond component manufacturing. BP Solar supplied and installed modules for large photovoltaic plants, including projects in Germany, Arizona, and New York. It also supported development programs in Southeast Asia and Africa. Examples recorded in the reference material include solar power for roughly 36,000 rural homes in Indonesia, 1,000 solar devices serving 400 remote villages in the Philippines, and a Malaysian rural-electrification scheme intended to reach 30,000 remote homes. In Sierra Leone, solar installations powered microwave repeater stations involved in restoring telecommunications infrastructure during the mid-1980s. Research and technical development were also part of BP Solar's activities. In 2004, BP sold its research-and-development operation to the UK's National Renewable Energy Centre. That operation later became Solar Capture Technologies. BP Solar also worked with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation on GreenGel, a deep-cycle lead-acid battery designed for renewable remote-area power systems. The project addressed battery degradation and charging performance in off-grid systems and contemplated an internationally competitive production process. The business was eventually affected by BP's decision to retreat from solar energy. BP closed the Frederick factory in 2010. On 21 December 2011, BP Solar closed after BP announced that it was leaving the solar-energy business. The later departure from Tata BP Solar in 2012 completed BP's withdrawal from that joint venture, while the former research operation and other related activities continued outside the BP Solar brand. BP Solar therefore remains a historical photovoltaic brand rather than an active operating business.
- 2013
Successor research company becomes Solar Capture Technologies
[1]The research operation transferred to the National Renewable Energy Centre in 2004 later became Solar Capture Technologies.
- 2012
BP leaves Tata BP Solar
[1]BP exited the Indian joint venture, which subsequently became wholly owned by the Tata Group.
- 2011
BP Solar closes
[1]BP announced its departure from solar energy, and BP Solar closed on 21 December.
- 2010
Frederick factory closes
[1]BP Solar shut its photovoltaic factory in Frederick, Maryland.
- 2004
Research operation is transferred
[1]BP sold the research-and-development part of BP Solar to the UK's National Renewable Energy Centre.
- 2001
The BP Solar name is adopted
[1]BP Solarex changed its name to BP Solar.
- 1999
BP consolidates its photovoltaic businesses
[1]BP acquired Enron's stake in Solarex and combined its photovoltaic divisions under BP Solarex.
- 1998
Amoco merger brings Solarex interest into BP
[1]BP's merger with Amoco gave BP Amoco's 50 percent stake in Solarex.
- 1991
Indian manufacturing begins
[1]Tata BP Solar began commercial operations with an Indian manufacturing unit rated at 3 megawatts of production capacity.
- 1989
Tata BP Solar is established
[1]BP Solar and Tata Power formed Tata BP Solar in India.
Products and positioning
An integrated international photovoltaic business combining solar-cell and module manufacturing with project installation, rural electrification, telecommunications power, and renewable-energy research.
Photovoltaic modules
BP Solar photovoltaic modules
The brand manufactured photovoltaic modules for grid-connected and off-grid applications. Its modules were deployed in utility-scale plants and smaller electrification projects, including installations in Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. The product business was supported by BP Solar's upstream involvement in photovoltaic-cell production.
Solar-energy systems
BP Solar photovoltaic systems
BP Solar supplied and installed complete photovoltaic systems rather than selling modules alone. These systems supported rural homes, remote villages, telecommunications infrastructure, and larger power plants. The business therefore combined equipment supply with engineering, installation, and project activity.
Renewable-energy storage
GreenGel battery project
In cooperation with CSIRO, BP Solar participated in work on a long-life deep-cycle lead-acid battery for renewable remote-area power systems. The GreenGel project aimed to reduce capacity loss and premature battery failure and to develop a commercially viable manufacturing process.
Marketing campaigns
- 1980Sierra Leone telecommunications solar installations
Sierra Leone
BP installed solar power for microwave repeater stations in support of telecommunications-network restoration in Sierra Leone.
Outcome. The installations provided renewable power for remote telecommunications infrastructure.
- Indonesia rural electrification
Indonesia
BP Solar supplied photovoltaic power reported to serve approximately 36,000 rural homes.
Outcome. The program expanded access to electricity in rural communities.
- Philippines remote-village solar program
The Philippines
BP Solar installed 1,000 solar devices for 400 remote villages.
Outcome. The installations supplied power to communities beyond conventional electricity networks.
- Malaysia rural electrification scheme
Malaysia
BP Solar participated in a scheme designed to provide solar-based electricity to remote homes in Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia.
Outcome. The program was intended to reach approximately 30,000 remote homes.
Brand decisions
2012
Exit from Tata BP SolarM&ABackground
BP had already closed its own solar business and subsequently withdrew from its Indian joint venture with Tata Power.
Action taken
BP sold or transferred its interest in Tata BP Solar, leaving the company wholly owned by the Tata Group.
Aftermath
Tata BP Solar continued outside BP ownership.
2011
BP withdraws from solar energyStrategyBackground
BP reassessed its alternative-energy activities and decided to discontinue its solar business.
Action taken
BP announced its departure from the solar-energy business, and BP Solar closed on 21 December 2011.
Aftermath
The BP Solar brand became defunct, while related activities and assets continued in some cases under other owners or successor organizations.
2010
Closure of the Frederick manufacturing plantStrategyBackground
BP Solar reduced its manufacturing footprint before BP's complete withdrawal from solar energy.
Action taken
The company closed its factory in Frederick, Maryland.
Aftermath
The closure preceded BP's announcement that it would leave the solar-energy business.
2004
Transfer of photovoltaic research and developmentStrategyBackground
BP reorganized part of its solar research activities.
Action taken
The research-and-development operation was sold to the UK's National Renewable Energy Centre.
Aftermath
The operation later became Solar Capture Technologies.
1999
Consolidation into BP SolarexM&ABackground
BP's Amoco merger provided an interest in Solarex, and BP also acquired Enron's stake in the company.
Action taken
BP combined its photovoltaic divisions under the BP Solarex name.
Aftermath
The consolidated operation was described as the world's leading photovoltaic producer in 1999 and was renamed BP Solar in 2001.
Recent events
- 2012
BP exits Tata BP Solar joint venture[1]
M&A
BP left its Indian joint venture with Tata Power. Tata BP Solar subsequently became wholly owned by the Tata Group.
- 2011
BP Solar closes after BP exits the solar-energy business[1]
Other
BP announced its withdrawal from the solar-energy business, and BP Solar closed on 21 December 2011.
- 2010
BP Solar closes its Frederick, Maryland, factory[1]
Other
The company shut its photovoltaic manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland, as its solar operations were being reduced.
- 2001
BP Solar adopts its final operating name[1]
Other
The photovoltaic division formerly consolidated as BP Solarex began operating under the BP Solar name.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/bp-solar · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled