Suntech to reach 10 GW of module capacity this year

Chinese PV module manufacturer Wuxi Suntech has completed the first, 1.5 GW phase of a 10 GW capacity expansion plan.

With the new capacity at its factory in Wuxi, in Jiangsu province, the company’s total module capacity stands at 6 GW, including production facilities elsewhere in the province, at Changzhou.

“We will reach up to 10 GW by the end of this year,” Wuxi Suntech told pv magazine. The additional 4 GW will be added at factories in Yangzhou and Zhenjiang, both also in Jiangsu province.

For phase one of the expansion plan, the module maker invested around RMB490 million ($70.2 million). It said the new lines cover all mainstream technologies and are compatible with multi-busbar cells of various formats, from 166-182mm and including 78-cell solar modules, as well as space to upgrade to 210mm large-format cells.

“Suntech will keep upgrading the Wuxi manufacturing facility with intelligent technology later this year,” the company said. “(It) is committed to creating a national pilot demonstration project of intelligent manufacturing and a national project of intelligent manufacturing with comprehensive standardization and application of new modes, which will enable the Wuxi manufacturing facility to achieve AI [artificial intelligence] intelligent inspection and [current versus voltage] IV automatic testing and other technological improvements.”