Initially, the solar panels will cover a surface area of 2 square kilometres in the city of Shizuishan, located in the Gobi Desert; an area which enjoy on average 1,600 solar hours per annum. This project is being conducted in response to ongoing local and regional government calls for the development of new energy resources in the area.
Conventional Astronergy crystalline silicon PV modules will be used alongside new amorphous/microcrystalline silicon tandem thin-film modules. According to Astronergy’s CEO, Liyou Yang, “this is a unique opportunity to present Astronergy’s new thin-film technology. Locating this project in Shizuishan in the independent region of Ningxia, will also bring new investment and resources into this region of China”.
According to Astronergy, the company expects to be among the first solar cell manufacturers to reduce PV module cost to below US$1/Wp. It is also committed to reaching 380 MW of production capacity by 2010 and become the world's leading thin-film PV producer.
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