Are your energy costs skyrocketing? United Solar Ovonic, located in Auburn Hills, has answers to help business owners and residents alike use the energy of the sun to power their facilities and homes.
United Solar Ovonic, a subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., is located on Lapeer Road across from the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The factory there produces solar electric modules and laminates that have been used across the world.
“We make and manufacture thin-film solar modules that convert sunlight into electricity,” says Uni-Solar Senior Product Market Manager Thomas Moran.
“We are a global manufacturer. In the U.S., we sell our products in California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii…These states often have the best incentives,” he says.
“We also have sites in China and Germany, and a few in Michigan like Grand Valley State and Oakland University.”
Oakland University used the Uni-Solar shingle system for the roofing on their student apartments, which has a 20-year warranty on power output.
The solar system not only helped OU lower their electric bill, but they were able to avoid pollution and reduce the impact of global warming at the same time.
Other uses for Uni-Solar’s lightweight, rugged and flexible products include charging batteries for solar lanterns and large solar farms for utility-scale applications.
They are used most extensively for Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) solar energy systems for residential and industrial customers, providing roofing and power-generation in a single product.
Uni-Solar has been operating for 20 years, and is the world’s leader and largest manufacturer of thin-film. The company plans to open another factory in the Metro Detroit area soon.
Most of Uni-Solar’s business comes from commercial entities, such as Coca-Cola Bottling, who used solar technology to benefit both the company and the surrounding community at their plant in Los Angeles, California.
Uni-Solar’s thin-film solar cells were integrated into single-ply roofing membranes, which helped Coca-Cola’s bottling facility generate electricity to help offset peak demand utility rates, especially during the summer when electricity is most expensive.
“Our product integrates with a variety of roofing substrates,” says Moran.
“We also have products for space application, as part of the MIR space station, and used for homeland security devices.”
Moran says Uni-Solar is a technology company first, and they are leading the effort in that growing field.
“More and more people are adapting that technology, and finding a cleaner, renewable source for energy,” he says.
“There are huge environmental benefits, as well as economical benefits. The industry is growing, and with it, job growth.”
Uni-Solar currently employs about 200 people at their facility in Auburn Hills, and will hire more for their new plant.
“We have a fully automated factory,” says Moran.
“Every 72 hours, we create nine miles of solar material, that is then cut into different sizes and can be made to look like roofing shingles.”
As the cells generate electricity during the day by using the sun’s rays, the user gets a credit on their electric meter for the energy they are producing.
At night, the power is debited out from the meter as it is used.
United Solar is located at 3800 Lapeer Road in Auburn Hills, across from the Palace of Auburn Hills, and behind The Post Bar.
The phone number is (248) 475-0100, toll-free 1-800-843-3892.
The website is www.uni-solar.com

Are your energy costs skyrocketing? United Solar Ovonic, located in Auburn Hills, has answers to help business owners and residents alike use the energy of the sun to power their facilities and homes.
United Solar Ovonic, a subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., is located on Lapeer Road across from the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The factory there produces solar electric modules and laminates that have been used across the world.
“We make and manufacture thin-film solar modules that convert sunlight into electricity,” says Uni-Solar Senior Product Market Manager Thomas Moran.
“We are a global manufacturer. In the U.S., we sell our products in California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii…These states often have the best incentives,” he says.
“We also have sites in China and Germany, and a few in Michigan like Grand Valley State and Oakland University.”
Oakland University used the Uni-Solar shingle system for the roofing on their student apartments, which has a 20-year warranty on power output.
The solar system not only helped OU lower their electric bill, but they were able to avoid pollution and reduce the impact of global warming at the same time.
Other uses for Uni-Solar’s lightweight, rugged and flexible products include charging batteries for solar lanterns and large solar farms for utility-scale applications.
They are used most extensively for Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) solar energy systems for residential and industrial customers, providing roofing and power-generation in a single product.
Uni-Solar has been operating for 20 years, and is the world’s leader and largest manufacturer of thin-film. The company plans to open another factory in the Metro Detroit area soon.
Most of Uni-Solar’s business comes from commercial entities, such as Coca-Cola Bottling, who used solar technology to benefit both the company and the surrounding community at their plant in Los Angeles, California.
Uni-Solar’s thin-film solar cells were integrated into single-ply roofing membranes, which helped Coca-Cola’s bottling facility generate electricity to help offset peak demand utility rates, especially during the summer when electricity is most expensive.
“Our product integrates with a variety of roofing substrates,” says Moran. “We also have products for space application, as part of the MIR space station, and used for homeland security devices.”
Moran says Uni-Solar is a technology company first, and they are leading the effort in that growing field.
“More and more people are adapting that technology, and finding a cleaner, renewable source for energy,” he says.
“There are huge environmental benefits, as well as economical benefits. The industry is growing, and with it, job growth.”
Uni-Solar currently employs about 200 people at their facility in Auburn Hills, and will hire more for their new plant.
“We have a fully automated factory,” says Moran. “Every 72 hours, we create nine miles of solar material, that is then cut into different sizes and can be made to look like roofing shingles.”
As the cells generate electricity during the day by using the sun’s rays, the user gets a credit on their electric meter for the energy they are producing. At night, the power is debited out from the meter as it is used.
United Solar is located at 3800 Lapeer Road in Auburn Hills, across from the Palace of Auburn Hills, and behind The Post Bar.
The phone number is (248) 475-0100, toll-free 1-800-843-3892. The website is www.uni-solar.com.