Singapore Site of New 1.5 GW Solar Manufacturing Complex

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50475

Singapore -- it's the country where Norway's Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) has decided to build its new integrated solar manufacturing facility. Fully developed, the manufacturing complex will incorporate wafer, cell and module production facilities -- and have a production capacity of up to 1.5 gigawatts (GW).

The decision to set up operations in Singapore was made after a comprehensive nine month screening process of more than 200 possible locations, followed by due diligence of close to 20 of them and finally negotiations with a handful of sites.

"The development of this site will enable us to continue expanding in a cost efficient manner and will support REC's ambitious cost target. Our future cost position will determine our ability to deliver solar products that can compete with traditional energy sources in the sunny areas of the world without government incentives," says Erik Thorsen, president & CEO of REC.

The project concept is finalized and pre-engineering activities have commenced. The total development will be organized in several stages through a series of interdependent projects. The initial investment decision is expected to take place as soon as the pre-engineering activities for the first phase have been completed some time during first half of 2008.

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[aquart]

1. Singapore. Not here.

[jpak]

2. Yup - billions in tax goodies for oil companies reaping extravagant profits

but few incentives for gigawatt scale PV production plants here in the US.

gotta luv GOP priorities...