Suntech Announces 10MW Solar Project in China

Suntech Power Holdings, based in Wuxi, China, has announced today that they have finished and commissioned a 10MW utility-scale power facility which will supply the national grid in China. The project, a solar power plant, went online today as it was completed recently, and will now be generating up to 10MW of solar harnessed energy for China.

The project is part of a larger 50MW solar power plant to be installed in Shizuishan, in western China which will be completed sometime in 2011. The project is part of a partnering with China Energy Conservation Investment. Financial specifics for the projects have not been disclosed.

In June, the area’s development and reform commission approved the project giving Suntech the green light to begin construction. Suntech has stated that they designed, installed, and operate the solar power facility which generates electricity using over 37,000 solar panels.

The project is anticipated to replace more than 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, and Suntech retains a minority share in the company. Suntech also announced recently an agreement with China Energy Conservation to aggressively develop large scale, on-grid projects with the company’s solar PV panels which would integrate urban dwellings with rural PV off-grid projects. The agreement also involves wind-solar hybrid projects.

The investment side is said to be supplied by China Energy Conservation and Suntech will be responsible for supplying the panels, installation, and system support. Last month, China Energy Conservation also financed another solar powered project which will also be on-grid. China’s solar industry has been heating up over the last six months with several companies investing in the large PV projects.