Canadian Solar Inc. recently announced the installation of a 5GW solar photovoltaic (PV) wafer production plant in Chonburi, Thailand. This initiative marks a major expansion for the company, in line with its commitment to sustainable growth and innovation in the renewable energies sector.
Innovation and Sustainability: Canadian Solar’s New Plants
The new production facility, scheduled to begin production in March 2024, will specialize in the manufacture of N-type photovoltaic solar wafers. These wafers will initially be used in the existing TOPCon cell manufacturing plant in Thailand. From 2025, once the new 5GW cell plant in Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA, is fully operational, wafers will also be transported to this facility.
Thomas Koerner, Senior Vice President of Canadian Solar, emphasizes the strategic importance of this expansion:
“Establishing this solar wafer plant in Thailand is a key step that will enable us to better serve our U.S. customers through a more diversified and resilient supply chain. It complements our recent investments in the U.S. in solar cell and module manufacturing.”
Canadian Solar’s Global Renewable Energy Strategy
Canadian Solar’s initiative is also in line with the new requirements of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s adjusted AD/CVD regulations. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to responding responsibly to the changing needs of the global renewable energy market.
Alongside its production of photovoltaic modules, Canadian Solar is also a major player in the development of large-scale solar energy projects and battery storage solutions. Since entering the project development business in 2010, the company has developed, built and connected over 9GWp of solar projects and over 3GWh of battery storage projects worldwide.
Currently, Canadian Solar manages around 700MWp of solar projects in operation, 8GWp of projects under construction or on hold, and 17GWp of projects in advanced or early-stage development. In addition, the company has a development pipeline of battery storage projects totalling 52GWh, of which around 2GWh is under construction or on hold, and 50GWh is in the advanced or initial development phase.
With the announcement of its new solar wafer production plant in Thailand, Canadian Solar Inc. demonstrates its commitment to innovation and sustainability.
