First Solar Inc. announced it will expand production with a new four-line solar module manufacturing plant with an expected minimum annual capacity (or nameplate capacity) of 100MW. The manufacturing plant will be located here in Kulim Hi Tech Park and when fully ramped will employ about 500 workers.
Plant construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, with production planned to begin in the second half of 2008. The total plant investment is estimated to be $150 million.
The Malaysian government is providing a 15-year income tax holiday as an incentive for First Solar's investment in Malaysia. The manufacturing site can accommodate future expansion, according to the company.
Phoenix-based First Solar currently operates a manufacturing plant in Ohio with 75MW nameplate capacity and is in the process of completing a manufacturing plant in Germany with 100MW nameplate capacity.
“Our expansion in Malaysia is enabled by the continued strong demand we are experiencing for our solar modules as a low-cost leader in the industry,” said Michael Ahearn, CEO of First Solar. “The expansion in Malaysia accelerates our cost reduction efforts by creating additional economies of scale in a low-cost manufacturing environment and providing a long-term tax incentive holiday. We are very pleased to be working with the Malaysian government, the state of Kedah, and the Kulim Hi Tech Park and look forward a strong long-term partnership.”
Y.Bhg. Datuk R. Karunakaran, director general of the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, said the government welcomes First Solar's investment as it is the first project to manufacture solar modules in Malaysia.
“This investment brings to Malaysia the latest technology in the solar energy sector,” he said.
For MORE NEWS BRIEFS, click here.
For a FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Expansion Management magazine, click here.
For MORE NEWS BRIEFS SORTED BY COUNTRY, click here.
For MORE NEWS BRIEFS SORTED BY STATE, click here.
For MORE NEWS BRIEFS SORTED BY INDUSTRY or FUNCTION, click here.
Means the article is accessible only to our magazine subscribers.
