United Solar Ovonic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices Inc., has formed a joint venture with Tianjin Jinneng Investment Company (TJIC) to establish a 30 MW photovoltaic (PV) module assembly facility in Tianjin, the People's Republic of China.
The joint venture, to be owned 75% by United Solar Ovonic and 25% by TJIC, will assemble solar modules using solar cells supplied by United Solar Ovonic. The venture will have nonexclusive rights to sell PV modules and systems in China – sales outside China will be through United Solar Ovonic. According to the companies, the facility is expected to begin operation in 2008.
‘This unique alliance will encourage export of solar cells manufactured in the U.S., creating jobs for American workers, and is a tangible result from our trade mission last November,’ comments U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez, who recently accompanied Energy Conversion Devices on a business development mission to China.
