CHINA’S BIG AZ SUN PLANS

Suntech could serve 8% of U.S. solar market; China-owned firm deciding whether to locate in East or West Valley
Ryan Randazzo, November 16, 2009 (Arizona Republic)

"Suntech Power Holdings Co. could serve about 8 percent of the U.S. solar-panel market from the factory it plans to open in the Phoenix area next year, officials said…

"The Chinese solar-panel maker, which shipped more traditional solar panels last year than any other company in the world, announced it is deciding…[where in the area to locate] a 100,000-square-foot U.S. factory…[This] means two solar powerhouses will have a presence [in the Phoenix area]…"

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"First Solar Inc., which makes "thin-film" solar panels using different semiconductor materials than traditional solar panels, is based in Tempe. It produces has the highest factory capacity in the world in addition to boasting the lowest cost in the industry...First Solar makes its panels in Ohio, Germany and Malaysia…Other solar companies are considering opening factories in Arizona, and if they do, it could prompt glass companies or other suppliers to open facilities…

"The Arizona Suntech plant should open with the capacity to produce enough panels each year to generate 30 megawatts of electricity, or enough for about 7,500 homes while the sun is shining…In 2008, Suntech's existing factories produced 498 megawatts of solar panels, most of which were sold to Europe."

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"Suntech sells about 8 percent of its panels in the U.S. and intends to grow its market share with the new plant…The U.S. installed 342 megawatts of solar panels in 2008…mostly in California, New Jersey, Colorado and Nevada…If the U.S. market grows to 400 megawatts or more a year, as expected, Suntech will be able to produce 7.5 percent of the U.S. supply in Arizona and supplement that with panels from its plants in China while expanding…

"Solar panels [are] made with silicon as a semiconductor that turns sunlight into electricity…Suntech will continue to process its silicon, most of it imported from Texas, into solar cells at its Chinese facilities…[and] will import the processed solar cells to Arizona, where they will be mounted with aluminum frames on glass panels and wired for installation…"