Solar wafer maker SAS joining forces with PRC’s Huawei

Solar wafer maker Sino-America Silicon Products Inc yesterday said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei Technologies Co to buy solar inverters made by the Chinese firm for its solar power plants.The deal is part of the company’s efforts to improve its position in the supply chain.SAS is to help distribute Huawei’s solar inverters outfitted with smart solar grid software, which allows solar power plant operators to improve efficiency and to remotely monitor the operation of their plants via smartphones.

SAS has been engaged in solar power industry via its subsidiaries such as GlobalWafers Co Ltd. Last summer, SAS established a new company, SAS Sunrise Inc, joining domestic companies to offer better-return solar power plants to minimize operation risks.SAS expects the company’s first solar power plant, located in the Philippines, to begin commercial operation in the second quarter of this year. The plant is expected to have an installed capacity of 50 megawatts.The company is also seeking to strike new deals with potential partners to build solar power plants around the world, including Taiwan, SAS said.

SAS plans to spend more than NT$3 billion (US$88.65 million) on manufacturing equipment and investments on solar power plants this year.Sino-American chairman Lu Ming-kuang told investors last week that global solar installation market would likely grow 10 percent year-on-year to 65 gigawatts this year.The growth is mainly driven by rising demand from the US, China and emerging markets, Lu said.Early this month, SAS reported a record high revenue of NT$28.28 billion for last year with its solar business growing 9 percent annually.