Friday, December 28, 2007

Yingli group will start thin film solar cell projects

Yingli group recently disclosed their thin film solar cell production plan, and they plan to set up one new sub company to produce thin film solar cell. The initial investment is 350 million RMB, and the total investment will be about 1 billion RMB. The first phase project production capacity will reach 500MW, and the production capacity will reach 2000MW by 2017.

Suntech Recognized for Exceptional Product Quality Control by China's National Quality Administration

Only Chinese Solar Company to Have Received Export Inspection Exemption

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) one of the world's leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced that Suntech has been granted National Export Inspection Exemption by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People's Republic of China. The export inspection exemption is China's highest honor awarded to companies that demonstrate exceptional internal product quality management and control. Suntech is the first Chinese solar company to receive this national recognition.

Since Suntech made the initial application for the export inspection exemption in January of 2006, numerous provincial and national quality representatives have conducted extensive reviews of Suntech's quality procedures which have led to ongoing quality process evolution and improvement. On December 2, 2007 Suntech successfully passed the final product quality control system inspection conducted by a team of specialists from the AQSIQ and fulfilled all the requirements for the inspection exemption. AQSIQ will continue to regularly inspect Suntech's quality procedures to ensure that this high quality standard is maintained. In addition to the Chinese export inspection exemption, Suntech has already received international product and quality standard accreditation including IEC61215: 1993, ISO 9001:2000, UL, TuV and CE.

"This national recognition reflects Suntech's steadfast commitment to exemplary quality control and our determination to exceed local and international quality standards," said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO. "With well over 90% of our solar cells and modules sold and installed outside of China, in more than 15 countries world-wide, it is imperative that we ensure a consistent and reliable solar product that can generate electricity in a wide range of environments, applications and weather conditions. Product quality is one of the fundamental building blocks of this industry, and as Suntech progresses towards multi-gigawatt production, we will continue to take steps to improve the performance, quality and durability of our solar products and set benchmarks for the industry."

Suntech's Quality Control (QC) team consists of over 600 personnel. The QC system incorporates a comprehensive set of controls including sample testing of all materials procured, regular equipment maintenance, manufacturing environment control, quality process ownership, quick response hot spot identification and eradication, and product testing at all critical steps of the manufacturing process. In addition, Suntech is currently exploring a number of initiatives to further improve quality control including increased production automation and adoption of advanced product tracking technologies. Suntech offers industry leading product power output guarantees of 25 years.

Suntech has taken a leading role to improve product quality in the solar industry through regular consultation with industry bodies and discussion with peers that operate at all stages in the solar value chain. In December 2007 Suntech held the 2007 Chinese PV Industry International Competitiveness Forum on behalf of the China Renewable Energy Association. The Forum brought together a diverse group of Chinese and international solar professionals to discuss Chinese PV companies' participation in the international solar industry and collective initiatives to advance manufacturing techniques, improve industry standards and support ongoing solar innovation.

China promises investment in renewables

BEIJING, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- China promised Wednesday to step up development of renewable energy, the official Xinhua news agency reported.In an effort to help curb emissions, the government has vowed to promote hydroelectric, nuclear, solar and wind energy, as well natural gas extracted from garbage dumps and coal mines.

In the country's first white paper on its energy conditions and policies, Beijing pledged to give top priority to developing renewable energy.

"China's energy development emphasizes thrift, cleanness and safety," says the white paper titled "China's Energy Conditions and Policies."

The share of renewable sources in China's energy consumption rose from 4 percent in 1980 to 7.2 percent last year, according to the paper. However, it notes that the energy structure is still largely based on coal, and will be for a long time.

"China will pay more attention to the clean utilization of energy resources, especially coal, and make it a focus of environmental protection," the paper said. "As a responsible developing country, China attaches great importance to environmental protection and prevention of global climate change."