Hanwha Solar, a global provider of solar products, has opened a PV research and development (R&D) laboratory in Santa Clara, Calif. The facility will explore a variety of next-generation PV concepts for efficient, low-cost conversion of solar energy into electricity, the company says.
‘Hanwha Solar located this facility in Silicon Valley to tap into the region's culture of innovation and technical expertise,’ notes Hee Cheul Kim, president of Hanwha Solar. ‘It is critical for a global company like Hanwha Solar to have a strong presence in California, because it is the epicenter of clean technology R&D.’
The company invested $14 million in the 30,000 square-foot facility, which was built with room for expansion in mind. It will employ 30 people at the R&D center, in addition to the 47 people it employs across the U.S.Â
