Chinese PV manufacturers JA Solar and Powerway are to join forces to target South Africa’s burgeoning solar market.
In a statement, JA Solar, a module manufacturer, and Powerway, which makes solar mounting systems, said the two companies would also work on solar projects in other African countries.
Powerway is already active in South Africa and has established a manufacturing facility there. The company also recently announced a South African tie-up with Chinese manufacturer and engineering, procurement and construction company NARI.
Under the latest agreement, Powerway said it would include JA Solar as a module provider in projects it gets involved in under South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer (REIPPP) programme.
The two companies also said they would work together to design and promote a system package solution for the South Africa’s as yet largely untapped commercial rooftop PV market.
“Powerway has established a footprint in South Africa over the last two years and has a wide market connection, the ideal long-term partner to work with in South Africa. It is very exciting to have an alliance with Powerway for our strategic movement into the African market,” said Xie Jian, chief operating officer of JA Solar.
Benson Wu, CEO of Powerway Group, added: “Powerway has also set up an alliance with Nari, one of the world’s biggest utility EPC companies, and now with JA Solar’s support, we are able to offer to the market a real one-stop solution, from manufacturing, to engineering, to construction, to financing and to O&M [operations and maintenance] service.”
