Just days after one of the leading solar cell manufacturing companies, Trina Solar, announced plans to set up a solar cell and module production unit in Thailand, a Taiwan-based company has announced similar plans.
Gintech Energy has announced that it will set up a 350 MW solar cell production facility in Thailand, which is expected to be operational later this year and should start commercial production in Q1’2016. The company is expected to invest $45 million during the first phase of the construction which would include land acquisition and equipment purchase.
Gintech stated that the Thai government has been very supportive towards the implementation of this project.
Through this facility Gintech Energy will become the first Taiwanese solar cell manufacturer to invest in Thailand. A number of Chinese companies, including Trina Solar and Zhongli Talesun, have extensive plans to set up production facilities in Thailand. The increased interest in the south-east Asian country is the result of the Thai government’s proactive policies to promote investment in the solar power production as well as manufacturing sectors.
Trina Solar will set up their manufacturing facility with annual production capacity of 500 MW solar photovoltaic modules and 700 MW of solar cells. The facility is expected to be operational by early 2016. Zhongli Talesun expects to commission its production unit by October and will also develop 1 GW of solar power projects over the next 3 years.
Chinese and Taiwanese solar equipment manufacturers are flocking to Thailand as it is a rapidly emerging solar power market and production manufactured in Thailand would not face anti-dumping duties in US and EU.
