Once a leading in-house solar module manufacturer, BP Solar has further solidified its outsourced manufacturing strategy by awarding JA Solar a monocrystalline and multicrystalline cell supply contract exceeding 185MW. The new supply deal will see 100MW of cells shipped to BP beginning in the first quarter of 2011.
“We have been working with BP Solar, which has its headquarters in San Francisco, since 2008 and we are very pleased to extend our relationship, as they are one of the world's largest integrated solar energy companies,” said Peng Fang, CEO of JA Solar. “With our leading cost structure, JA Solar provides BP Solar a cost advantage in the residential, commercial and utility markets. This agreement provides JA with firm orders through next year.”
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“We are very pleased to continue our partnership with JA Solar,” said Mike Petrucci, CEO of BP Solar. “A solid supply of high-quality solar cells is critical in meeting our growing demand for BP Solar's proven product line, delivering the highest lifetime value.”
JA Solar noted that a separate agreement, made earlier this year with BP Solar, was worth than 85MW. The majority of cells have already been delivered, with the remainder to be shipped through the fourth quarter of 2010.
Fang recently told PV-Tech that he expects JA Solar to ship approximately 1.35GW of cells in 2010 and couldn’t meet expected demand. The company is also rapidly ramping its latest next-generation cell technology, Secium, with average conversion efficiencies of 18.5% using selective-emitter technology.
