Motech creating solar module assembly JV with Giga Solar in Taiwan

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The company is estimated to reach around 3.6GW of annual solar cell capacity in 2017, which currently includes 1.6GW in China and 2GW in Taiwan. Image: Motech

Leading Taiwanese solar cell and module manufacturer Motech Industries said it was entering into a Joint Venture (JV) with metallisation paste supplier, Giga Solar Materials Corp to establish a solar module assembly plant in Taiwan to meet future domestic demand. 

Motech said in a Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) filing that it would establish ‘Taiwan Solar Module Manufacturing Corporation’ with a registered capital of NT$1.0 billion (US$33.1 million).

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Motech would issue 180,000 shares at a unit price of NT $10 to hold a 90% stake in the JV for a value of around US$5.96 million. Motech did not provide further information on the proposed module manufacturing plans.

Motech recently reported preliminary unaudited third quarter 2017 revenue of around NT$ 6,268 million, (US$206.4 million) compared to NT$ 5,596 million in the second quarter of 2017.

The company is estimated to reach around 3.6GW of annual solar cell capacity in 2017, which currently includes 1.6GW in China and 2GW in Taiwan.

A separate TSE filing from Giga Solar Materials Corp only mentioned its Board of Directors, were planning to sign a JV contract with Motech. The aim would be to produce PV modules for the Taiwanese market, according to the filing. 

Solar cell manufacturing has been the dominant segment of the supply chain in Taiwan, due to the early success of key merchant manufacturers such as Motech, Gintech and NSP. However, primarily due to high land costs and low margins for module assembly, little module production at scale has been undertaken on the island. 

Taiwan Government policies towards the solar sector have changed dramatically in the last few years as solar is being promoted at a time when the country plans to close its nuclear power plants and shift to renewable sources. 

However, according to Taiwan-based market research firm EnergyTrend, PV capacity installed in the first half of 2017 only totalled 130MW. 

The planned JV between Motech and Giga Solar comes a day after a major merger was announced between solar cell and module rivals, Gintech, Neo Solar Power and Solartech. The companies had also noted that it welcomed other Taiwanese companies to join forces to better compete. 

Head of market research at PV Tech, Finlay Colville noted in a blog that the merged companies, renamed United Renewable Energy Co., Ltd. (or UREC), will be the fourth largest solar cell producer in the industry during 2018, placing it in an exclusive grouping of JA Solar, Hanwha Q-CELLS and JinkoSolar.

Both major announcements come ahead of Taiwan’s major trade show for the solar industry, PV Taiwan being held in Taipei from Wednesday through Friday this week.

Read Next

October 8, 2025
US solar module prices jumped in Q3 2025 as developers scrambled to meet the 2 September 2025 safe harbour deadline for Investment Tax Credit (ITC) qualification, according to supply chain platform Anza.
October 8, 2025
University of Sydney scientists have created the largest and most efficient triple-junction perovskite-perovskite-silicon solar cell on record.
October 8, 2025
Saatvik Green Energy has secured new solar PV module orders worth more than INR7 billion (US$84 million), to be delivered in this financial year.
October 7, 2025
Econergy will acquire 100% stake in the 155MW Ratesti solar project in Romania, further expanding its European renewable energy portfolio.
October 7, 2025
Juniper Green Energy through its subsidiary Juniper Green Sigma Eight has signed a 70MW power purchase agreement with renewable energy giant Tata Power. 
October 7, 2025
OpenSolar has secured US$13.1 million in equity financing from technology investors, including Titanium Ventures, Google and others.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK