TSEC Begins Trial Production of New 500 MW Solar Cell Line in Taiwan

TSEC, a Taiwan-based solar cell and module manufacturer, has announced the beginning of its trial production of a new 500 MW solar cell line at its Yuanjing factory in Taiwan.

The company has said that the new line is currently operating with an annual capacity of 400 MW. It is expected to produce cells with wafers measuring between 8 to 12 inches, which would allow the manufacturer to produce more powerful modules with a power output of up to 700 W. The manufacturing facility was deployed at the end of March.

TSEC invested TWD 900 million ($32.2 million) in the new production line, which raised the company’s total solar cell capacity to 1 GW.

Many new renewable energy projects have been announced in Taiwan this year, including Taiwan Cement (TCC) investing US$350 million to build a super battery factory in Kaohsiung, the largest city in southern Taiwan, and Ecolohas Energy Technology building smart and green homes in the country.

Additionally, RE firm Total signed an agreement in April to acquire a 23 percent interest in Yunlin Holding GmbH, the owner of Yunlin offshore wind farm located off the coast of Taiwan, around 200 kilometers southwest of Taipei. Global offshore wind leader Ørsted has also begun full-scale offshore construction activities of the 900 MW Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farms in Taiwan.

The country plans to generate 20% of its energy from renewable energy by 2025, up from 5% in 2020, a goal which is backed by the Four-year Wind Power Promotion Plan and Two-year Solar PV Promotion Plan. Following these projects, the capacity of renewable power is expected to reach 26.9 gigawatts within five years.

Back in October 2015, TSEC announced ambitions to increase its manufacturing capacity from 800 MW to between 1.5 and 1.6 GW. Since then, however, the Taiwanese solar industry has experienced very hard times due to strong pressure on prices and fierce competition from other Asian manufacturers.