Suntech kicks off largest solar project in Jiangsu

Chinese solar cell and panel maker Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP) said today that new solar subsidies in China have cleared the path for it to build the largest grid-connected solar installation in Jiangsu Province.

The 1.5-megawatt system is expected to be completed by October in HuaiAn City, on about 19,000 square meters (204,500 square feet) of industrial rooftop. The system is to be installed on factory and warehouse buildings owned by a subsidiary of Jiangsu Guoxin Group, which is partnering with Suntech on the project.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but Suntech said the new solar subsidies in China have made the project feasible. China introduced the subsidy in March in the form of a cash grant of RMB 20 ($2.90) per watt for installations 50 kilowatts or greater (see New solar subsidies in China set to reduce installed cost by half).

There are currently no rooftop solar projects larger than 1 MW in Jiangsu Province, Suntech said. Suntech's energy engineering team plans to design and install the system.

Jiangsu Guoxin Group has previously developed four biomass projects and one wind power project in the province.The state-owned company was established by the Jiangsu provincial government.

Suntech's integration team has previously built a 120 kW system at the Beijing Jingya Hotel curtain wall, an 800 kW system at the Wuxi Airport, and a 1 MW building integrated PV facade at Suntech's new headquarters in Wuxi. The team is currently installing a 3 MW BIPV solar system for the Shanghai World Expo.