Panasonic begins HIT solar module production in Malaysia

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Panasonic Corp on Thursday started production at its newly-built solar module manufacturing facility in Malaysia. With an annual production capacity of 300 MW, the factory in Kulim Hi-Tech Park in the northwestern state of Kedah, will manufacture HIT solar modules, which offer the world’s highest-level conversion efficiency.

Panasonic said the new production facility will help Panasonicit meet robust solar demand in Japan while further enhancing cost competitiveness. The global solar market is expected to grow further with increasing environmental awareness and the introduction of stimulus measures such as feed-in tariffs and subsidies in various countries, including Japan.

Panasonic said it will take full advantage of this new facility, the company’s first fully-integrated solar manufacturing base producing from wafers to solar cells and modules, not only to meet such strong demand but also strengthen cost competitiveness through reduced transportation costs and use of local materials.

Panasonic is currently manufacturing HIT solar cells at its two domestic plants and has three module assembly bases, two in Japan and one in Hungary, with an annual production capacity of 600 MW each of cells and modules. The new Malaysian factory will boost the company’s total solar module producing capacity by 50% to 900 MW.