Astronergy showcases new technology at power station

Hangzhou, China-based Astronergy launched the first 10-megawatt phase of a 100 MW photovoltaic power station today in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The project is planned to be completed within three years, providing power to more than 50,000 families. It is expected to cover two square kilometers (21,500,000 square feet) in Shizuishan City in the arid Gobi Desert region, which receives an average of 1,600 hours of sunlight per year, according to a news release. The cost of the project was not disclosed, but the company received support from investment and technology partners.

Of the first phase, half is expected to use Astronergy's conventional crystalline silicon PV modules, while the other half is expected to use its amorphous silicon/microcrystalline silicon tandem junction thin film technology.

"This is an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Astronergy's revolutionary new thin film technology,” said Astronergy’s CEO Liyou Yang, in the release. “At the same time, the location of this project in Shizuishan City in the Ningxia Autonomous Region will bring renewed investment and resources to that region of China.”

Astronergy, a subsidiary of the Chint Group, says it produces single crystalline silicon solar cells with average conversion efficiency of more than 16.5 percent. The company is developing the technology to manufacture amorphous and microcrystalline silicon tandem thin film photovoltaic modules with an average conversion efficiency of more than 9 percent. In March, Astronergy secured $50 million from two China-based private equity investors for its PV manufacturing (see Astronergy secures $50M for PV manufacturing in China).

In April, another Chint Group solar power subsidiary, Chint Solar, said it raised $50 million in its first round of funding led by Hangzhou, China-based Cybernaut and Shanghai Alliance Investment (see Chint Solar gets $50M investment on heels of patent suit win).

The Chinese Ministry of Finance established new incentives in March that could boost struggling China-based solar manufacturers. The cash grant of RMB 20 ($2.90) per watt would apply to solar PV installations in China to encourage rural and urban markets to adopt the technology (see New solar subsidies in China set to reduce installed cost by half).

Astronergy said it plans to reach 380 MW of production capacity by 2010. Astronergy says it expects to be among the first companies to reduce the PV module cost to below $1 per watt. Tempe, Ariz.-based thin-film giant First Solar recently said it was able to produce thin-film panels for less than $1 per watt. First Solar expects to reach 1,100 MW manufacturing capacity in 2009 (see First Solar buys OptiSolar's pipeline of projects for $400M).

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