China’s Irico Group breaks ground on 3.4-GW PV glass factory

China-based IRICO Group New Energy Co Ltd (HKG:0438) has kicked off construction of a photovoltaic (PV) glass manufacturing factory that will be capable of producing enough for 3.4 GW of panels.

On Wednesday the company initiated the pile foundation construction phase of its IRICO Yan’an new energy industrial project. The facility will be located in the Yan’an Economic and Technological Development Zone of Shaanxi Province.

The factory will be equipped with what is touted as the world’s largest 800T/D-850T/D oxygen-fuel furnace with minimum energy consumption for producing ultra-clear solar glass of high transmittance along with ancillary production lines. Once up and running, the plant’s annual output for PV glass coated products is estimated to reach 26 million square metres (279.8m sq feet). The furnace is to be ignited for trial operation in 2017, according to the statement.

The firm, former IRICO Group Electronics Co Ltd, noted that its PV glass business is the third biggest worldwide. The cost advantages arising from the construction of the new manufacturing plant will help accelerate the expansion of its downstream solar operations, too.

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