Introduction
Tongwei Solar, although not widely known in Australia, stands as one of the world’s largest producers of solar cells, boasting a production capacity of 12 gigawatts. This achievement is significant, considering that their output last year surpassed the total solar cell installations in Australia.
Company Profile
Tongwei Solar, a subsidiary of Tongwei Group, primarily focuses on producing solar cells. The company, founded in 2009, began large-scale production of solar cells in 2013. Interestingly, Tongwei Group’s origins trace back to 1983, starting with aquaculture and fish food production, now the world’s largest in that sector. This diversification from aquaculture to solar technology exemplifies rapid industrialization and innovation.
Production and Capacity
Tongwei Solar’s production is centered around solar cells. They source silicon ingots from other companies, process them into solar cells, and supply these to panel manufacturers. While some companies are vertically integrated, Tongwei’s strength lies in their specialization. They anticipate expanding their cell production capacity to 30 gigawatts in the next 3-5 years, aiming to meet over 10% of global demand.
Company Locations
The company operates in two major locations in China:
- Chengdu, Western China, a megacity with over 14.4 million residents.
- Hefei, Eastern China, with a population of 7.9 million.
Future Plans
Tongwei Solar is actively expanding its capacity in monosilicon solar cell production, which is part of the global shift towards more efficient solar technologies. A significant expansion is underway at their Hefei plant, adding 10 gigawatts of production capacity. This expansion will increase their total capacity to 22 gigawatts, further solidifying their position in the market.
For more detailed information and the latest updates on Tongwei Solar, you can visit their official website here.