Things are getting real for Helios Solar.

What began as a dream has started to take hold, and both Fowler, Colo., and nearby Pueblo are contributing support to a potential concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) manufacturing plant that may take root in the area.

“The town of Fowler really wants to do this,” said Ben Jones, CEO of Helios Solar. “The biggest company worldwide in factory automation is helping us, and CSU pueblo.”

Recently, Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Engineering Department committed to create a pilot facility for Helios on its campus.

“We believe that our expertise is very well matched to Helios Solar’s objectives at this stage in their development and would like to develop a series of joint-venture projects, each focused on achieving a particular goal,” wrote Jane Fraser, Engineering Department chair for CSU Pueblo, in an official letter to Jones. “We envision that this collaboration will take the form of direct faculty involvement in applied research, master’s theses, senior design projects and internships.”

But Helios isn’t announcing anything just yet. There are still myriad logistics Jones and his team must work through before Fowler will see any construction crews.

However, the town is hedging its bets.

Fowler recently voted to gift Helios 15 acres of land to build the manufacturing plant. Helios had its eye on the town’s vacant Diven cannery, but Jones said that the space, about six acres, might not be big enough.

“I knew there was land if we needed to expand,” said Jones. “I didn’t know they were gifting us, though. There are advantages in using the cannery, but we can’t pass up 15 acres.”

Jones said the plan, as it stands now, is to build a zero-carbon factory.

“We can use geothermal for heating and cooling, solar thermal for hot water, and CPV for electricity generation,” said Jones. “There are a lot of zero-carbon homes, but not a zero-carbon factory at this scale. I think it would be a great success model.” 

But Helios isn't the only fish in the proverbial CPV pond in the West.

Last week, Amonix, a competitor in the concentrated solar market, opened a manufacturing plant outside of Las Vegas, which, according to Jones, is encouraging.

“The Amonix plant proves that the industry is accepting the technology,” said Jones. Concentrated PV is still, by industry standards, in its adolescence. And Helios, which manufactures significantly smaller modules (Amonix’s are absolutely enormous), is in the right position to jump in while the water’s shallow and provide the local economy around Southern Colorado with a bit of a boost.

At full strength, Jones estimates that the plant will employ over 400 workers, and Jones is hoping that Helios’ financial plans will begin to take shape in the near future.

“We could start building tomorrow,” said Jones. “But we’re still looking for the investment.”