Major monocrystalline wafer producer Longi Silicon Materials has signed land and development contracts with the Yinchuan Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee to build a 3GW monocrystalline silicon facility in Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
The integrated facility of crystal growing and wafer production will also house 500MW of module production, expected to require an investment of CNY3 billion (US$470.2 million), which has yet to finalised, according to a financial statement.
Subject to facility design acceptance the project could start construction in 2016. Longi reached a nameplate capacity of 3GW for monocrystalline silicon rods and wafers in 2014.
Longi is also planning via its subsidiary Lerri Solar to build out 2GW of monocrystalline PERC solar cell production capacity in China.
The company recently reported first half 2015 operating income of around US$264.2 million, 15.3% higher than the prior year period and guided contract orders for PV modules totalling 600MW.
