China (mainland) – Industries engaged in the manufacture of solar energy-related products are in full swing across China. The country is now taking the global lead in the implementation of programs designed to support the development of the solar industry and the adoption of solar technology.
Based in China’s numerous manufacturing centers, these industries specialize in particular solar-related products such as silicon materials, solar cells or solar-powered LEDs.
According to a report from the United Nations Environment Programme, China is committed to invest $180 billion in a long-term national goal of attaining a renewable energy standard of 15 percent in 2020. The commitment includes incubating a solid industry that could meet future solar power demands.
China’s solar industry has grown twice and four times bigger than its European and North American counterparts, respectively.
Yangzhou City is new solar industry hub
Solar industries are emerging in multiple regions in China, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei and Shenzhen. Through the local government’s Solar Energy Industry Development Plan, Yangzhou in Zhejiang is now developing several fast-rising solar industry clusters.
With more than 70 manufacturers in the area, Yangzhou has designated several of its districts as business clusters. The city’s Gaoyou district focuses on monocrystalline silicon materials, solar cells and solar energy-powered LEDs while Baosheng district specializes on production of amorphous silicon solar cells. Yizheng and Huaiyang districts mainly develop monocrystalline silicon ingots, wafers and solar cells.
The solar industry in Yangzhou is forecast to earn $4 billion in sales in 2010 and as much as $14.28 billion in 2012 with 10 percent year-on-year increase. The city’s solar industry is estimated to have earned $79 million in exports in 2008.
About 10 makers based in the city are capable of mass-producing solar cells. Jiangsu Shunda Group Corp., for instance, can turn out 1,100 tons of monocrystalline silicon ingots, 350 million silicon wafers and 20MW solar cells every year.
Also based in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Tianbao PV Energy Co. Ltd aims to ship 300MW solar cells by 2010 with a total production value of about $13 million. In H1 2008, it achieved $12.81 million in exports, which is nearly 500 percent higher than in the same period in 2007.
In Zhuji, Zhejiang Guangyi Optical Energy Technologies Co. Ltd is building a $32.3 million-worth 50MW solar energy battery production complex. Expected to begin operation in 2010, the new factory covers 45,000sqm and has a projected annual production value of $176.5 million.
The company produces solar panels, photovoltaic controllers, chargers and lamps.
More investments pour in
To stimulate the rapid development of the industry, transnational corporations and international lending institutions are increasing investments in China’s growing solar industry.
Intel Capital, Intel’s global investment arm, has announced cleantech investments in China, which are intended to expedite the local “green” innovation and reduce dependency on carbon-based energy generation. It will provide $20 million to Trony Solar Holdings Co. Ltd, a thin-film solar energy and solution provider from China. Trony plans to use the funding from Intel Capital to expand its production capacity to 105MW and strengthen its R&D capability.
The International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will provide ENN Solar Energy Co. Ltd a $45 million loan from its own account, up to $76 million loans syndicated from commercial banks and other lenders, and up to $15 million stake purchase in ENN Energy. IFC said the financial package will support ENN Solar Energy’s implementation of China’s first large-scale, thinfilm- based solar module manufacturing facility to help drive down production costs and stimulate the development of the local solar photovoltaic market.
ENN Solar Energy, a member of China’s XinAo Group, plans to implement a purpose-built greenfield facility in the Langfang Economic & Technical Development Zone in Langfang, Hebei. The project is the first phase of the XinAo Group’s three-step strategic plan to build its photovoltaic thin film business.
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