China's 170 Megawatts of Solar Power to be built by SunPower

SunPower Corp will build power plants with total 170 megawatts capacity in Inner Mongolia region in China, in co-operation with Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co. and another unnamed partner. China's government also planned to free up monopoly in electricity.

According to Bloomberg, the San Jose-based company will complete the power plant next year. Previously, SunPower reached an agreement with Apple Inc to build 40 megawatts solar power plant for Apple Inc in Sichuan province last April. Then, last month Apple Inc plan to invest in another solar power with 200 megawatts capacity. Apple Inc encourage suppliers to make similar commitments. However, it is not clear whether Apple will also participate in the new solar power plants. In agreeent with China, SunPower and Chinese partners will build three power plants: 100-megawatt plant in Shangtuhai Village, 20-megawatt one in Qianbaimiao Village and 50-megawatt plant in Mandathu Town.

SunPower is a company that has been doing solar panel business for 30 years. Established in 1985, it designs and produces photovoltaic cells, roof tiles and solar panels. SunPower use crystalline silicon to produce its high-efficiency solar cell. Its leading technology has attracted NASA to use SunPower's solar cell for Pathfinder atmospheric satellite.

Prior to agreement with SunPower, China power industry was experiencing drop in power output. A week before, Reuters reported that China was planning to set up two regional power trading exchanges as part of efforts to free up electricity prices. National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's economic planning agency was in talk with power firms and state-owned grid firms to establish power exchanges in Beijing and Guangzhou. Government of China also in preparation to free up power market in pilot provinces including Inner Mongolia, where SunPower power plan is expected to be operational next year. NDRC spokesman, Shi Zihai, told reportes, "We are studying matters related to opening power trading centres in Beijing and Guangzhou, and there are also studies into setting up other provincial-level trading organizations,"

China's power sales is monopolized by two state grid firms, the State Grid Corporation of China and the Southern Grid Corporation. Both firms have also been working hard to provide higher supplies for growing electric power consumption in China. As reported by Access International, Southern Grid Corporation is now visiting Elévateur, French company that develop insulated boom. France Elévateur has invented smaller insulated boom that can be mounted on lighter and versatile trucks which are also capable of working in the rain. Elévateur worked with French electricity company ERDF International to develop and manufacture the insulated booms.

With SunPower new power plants, China will soon start to overcome its growing energy demand. As governent is also set in motion free up monopoly in China's power supply.