KUALA LUMPUR – Japanese electronics giant Panasonic Corp is spending ¥45 billion (S$763 million) to build a solar cell facility in Malaysia, positioning for further growth in the sector amid rising global environmental awareness and the introduction of subsidy schemes in Japan and other countries.
The factory, to be located in Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah, will cover more than 700,000 sq ft and create 1,500 jobs. Scheduled to start production next December, it will have an annual output of solar cells that will have a generation capacity of 300 megawatts, Panasonic said yesterday.
The company said it would accelerate its solar business development globally. Robust demand is expected particularly in the residential sector, it said, adding it would sell its solar modules as an individual product as well as part of a system combined with storage batteries.
A person familiar with the matter told Dow Jones last month that Panasonic had decided to cancel a plan to convert a plasma-TV panel plant in western Japan into one that makes solar panels. The change in plan was the latest indication of how Japan’s solar panel makers are struggling as fast-growing Chinese producers muscle into the market while the strong yen makes Japanese exports too expensive.
Panasonic chief financial officer Makoto Uenoyama said last month that the foreign exchange environment remained “very tough” and that it was “extremely difficult to make new business investments in Japan”.
By producing wafers, solar cells and modules at the new factory in Malaysia, “we are further strengthening our cost competitiveness”, Panasonic said yesterday.
When Panasonic acquired a majority stake in Sanyo Electric in 2009, the latter’s strength in energy-efficient technology – particularly solar panels and rechargeable batteries – was cited as one of the reasons for the deal.
But the global market landscape for solar panels has changed dramatically since. Chinese solar-cell makers such as JA Solar and Suntech Power, are now among the world’s biggest producers, helped by Beijing’s support for renewable-energy businesses.
Also yesterday, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a trade-barrier investigation of US subsidies and supporting policies for the renewable energy industry, in a tit-for-tat response to a US probe of alleged dumping by Chinese solar panel makers.
The investigation will cover solar, hydroelectric and wind energy products and equipment. Chinese industry groups requested the probe, alleging that US policies violate obligations under World Trade Organization rules and hurt the competitiveness of Chinese renewable-energy products in the American market, the ministry said. AGENCIES
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