Chinese Module Makers Push Across New Frontiers In Search For New Markets

Hemmed in by domestic overcapacity and trade walls coming up in traditional export markets like the US, Europe and India, Chinese module makers have made an unprecedented push to take solar to newer markets. It remains to be seen if these new markets offer the dame reward and returns equation for these suppliers. Be it terrain considered completely inhospitable until 5 years ago, or cracking open the high on potential but low on resources Africa market, the breadth of the effort by module makers is huge.

 

Solar In Tibet

This week, JA Solar, a leading Chinese PV player, announced the successful supply of 1.1GW n-type DeepBlue 4.0 Pro modules for two animal husbandry and PV complementary projects located in Angduo Township, Mangkang County, and Gongjue Township, Latuo County in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. Despite the high altitude and remote location of the projects, JA Solar claims to have completed the supply one month ahead of schedule.

Of the two projects, the one in Angduo Township, Mangkang County, is believed to be the largest animal husbandry and PV complementary project under construction in the world.

Previously, the DeepBlue 4.0 Pro has already been applied in a 200MW Animal Husbandry and PV Complementary Project in Chamdo, Tibet Autonomous Region, which has been successfully connected to the grid since November 2023.

Astroenergy Strengthens Africa Push With 1 GW win

Keeping up is Astroenergy, another Chinese module maker that has emerged with higher capacities in recent years. Astronergy solar modules will be shipped to Algeria to support the country’s 2,000 MW solar plant construction plan.

The 2,000 MW plan targets construction of photovoltaic plants proposed by Sonelgaz, Algeria’s state-owned power utility. The plan is to build 15 solar power plants in the country’s 12 provinces, each with a capacity ranging from 80 to 220 MW. Most of the solar projects in this plan are built by Chinese companies.

This time, Astronergy won six major projects, namely the 80 MW Abadla PV plant, the 220 MW Batemete PV plant, the 200 MW Gueltet Sidi Saad PV plant, the 200 MW Douar El Maa PV plant, the 80 MW Ouled Djellal PV plant, and the 220 MW Biskra PV plant projects, which will be built by CWE and POWERCHINA respectively.

Among these projects, the 220 MW Biskra is one of the largest in the 2,000 MW plan, and its construction has already begun. The project uses Astronergy’s ASTRO N5 TOPCon solar modules.

According to local media reports, Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Mining, Mohamed Alkab, said at the inauguration ceremony of the Biskra project that the construction of the project will not only create more than 600 jobs for the local community and promote economic development, but will also have far-reaching significance for improving Algeria’s energy structure and realizing the energy transition strategy.

Astroenergy has previously had success with bids to supply modules to the Noor Ouarzazate photovoltaic plant in Morocco and the Benban solar plant in Egypt are supported by Astronergy solar modules.