Chinese high-tech firm Astronergy plans to invest $700 million to build a solar cell manufacturing facility in Balikesir in western Türkiye, aiming to produce high-efficiency solar equipment using TOPCon 4.0 technology.
The facility, with a total annual capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW) upon completion in 2028, will be constructed in two phases under Türkiye's HIT-30 high-tech investment initiative.
Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of this year.
"In the first phase, we will produce 3 GW of wafers and cells. In the second phase, this capacity will be expanded to 5 GW," Ercument Kaya, chairman of the board at Astronergy, told Anadolu.
"We have completed land acquisitions in the Balıkesir Organized Industrial Zone and expect to begin construction later this year," Kaya added.
The company, a subsidiary of China's Chint Group, already operates a 1 GW solar panel facility in the southern city of Adana.
The new Balikesir facility will focus on manufacturing local solar panel cells, Kaya said and added that 80% of production is planned for export to key markets such as the US and Southern Europe.
"Chint Green Energy is our solar investment brand," he said and added: "Chint Power focuses on inverters and storage and Astronergy leads panel production and sales."
The company aims to build on Chint Group's global success stories by expanding in Türkiye, he said.
- Astronergy bets on hybrid technology
Following the disruptions caused by the COVİD-19 pandemic, Kaya noted that companies worldwide are moving away from centralized manufacturing.
"The risks of a single supply hub became very clear. That's why we're transferring some of our global investments to regions like Türkiye, where our local team has already proven successful," he said.
He also emphasized the flexibility required in high-tech manufacturing: "When we entered solar panel production, the dominant cell technology was 'PERC.' Today, it's 'TOPCon.' By the time we move to Phase 2, we might shift to a new technology, depending on the global direction. That's why we’re planning a hybrid investment model."
Astronergy is one of the world's largest solar energy investors, with over 12 GW in global capacity.
Kaya added that the company will continue to participate in Türkiye's renewable energy tenders in the coming years.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr