OCI, a leading solar power builder in Korea, said Tuesday that the company has completed a solar cell and module production line in San Antonio, Texas, as part of its efforts to enter the fast-growing U.S. solar power market.
It marks the first time for a South Korean company to build such a plant in the U.S.
“The plant, with an annual production capacity of 100 megawatts, is aimed at supplying highly efficient ‘N-type’ solar cells and modules to OCI’s ongoing mega solar power project in San Antonio,” the company said in a press release.
OCI is building seven solar farms in the southern U.S. city to generate 400 megawatts of solar power by 2016. OCI launched the energy project, called the Alamo Project, in 2012 jointly with Texas state-owned CPS Energy. So far, three of the seven solar power plants have been completed.
When the Alamo project is finished by 2016, the seven solar farms will provide power to 70,000 households in Texas.
OCI added that it would use the production line to penetrate other U.S. cities following the Alamo project.
In a related development, OCI’s affiliate Sun Action Trackers also opened a solar tracker facility with an annual 200-megawatt production capacity in San Antonio.
By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)
