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Business Description
JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. manufactures high-performance solar cells based in China. The company sells its products to solar module manufacturers who assemble and integrate its solar cells into modules and systems that convert sunlight into electricity. It sells its products to customers primarily in China, Germany, Sweden, Spain, South Korea and the United States.
Products
The company focuses on solar cell design and manufacturing, a stage in the solar power industry value chain. It designs, manufactures, and markets solar cells, which are made from specially processed silicon wafers and convert sunlight into electricity through a process known as the photovoltaic effect.
The company produces only monocrystalline solar cells as all of its silicon wafer supplies are monocrystalline. As of December 2006, it sold a total of approximately 10.9 million 125 mm × 125 mm solar cells with a total power output of approximately 26.2 MW.
Format: The company produces solar cells with a format of 125 mm × 125 mm with maximum power of 2.60 watts and an optimum operating voltage of 0.62v. It produces different sizes of solar cells by making minor adjustments to the equipment used in its manufacturing lines.
Cell Thickness: One of the company’s research and development projects is focused on refining process technologies for ultra-thin wafers. The average thickness of the silicon wafers from its suppliers is in the range of 210-230 microns. The company is capable of processing silicon wafers that are as thin as 180 microns.
Suppliers
The company purchases all of its wafer supplies from Jinglong Group. It has also entered into a 31-month wafer supply agreement with ReneSola in September 2006 and a 54-month wafer supply agreement with M.SETEK in December 2006.
Markets and Customers
The company sells its solar cells principally to solar module manufacturers, which would assemble and integrate its products into modules and systems. The company’s major customers include Shanghai Chaori Solar Energy Co., Ltd.; Shanghai Huinong Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang ERA solar Technology Co., Ltd.; Wuxi Jiacheng Solar Technology Co., Ltd.; Zhangjiagang Yongneng (Sun Link PV); Canadian Solar Inc.; Huangming Solar; Ningjin Sun New Energy Co., Ltd.; Shanghai Rentong; and Wuxi Guofei Green Power Source Co., Ltd. The company sells a portion of its products to module manufacturers based in China.
In January 2007, the company signed long-term customer agreement with PowerLight Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SunPower Corporation, under which the company is to supply PowerLight with a total of 120 MW of solar cells. In January 2007, it also signed a long-term sales agreement with Crown Renewable Energy, LLC, under which the company has agreed to supply Crown Renewable Energy a total of 45 MW of solar cells. In April 2007, the company entered into an agreement with Canadian Solar Inc. for the delivery of solar cells.
Competition
In the global market, the company’s competitors include photovoltaic divisions of large conglomerates, such as BP Solar International Inc., Schott AG, Sharp Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.; specialized cell and module manufacturers such as Motech Industries, Inc., E-Ton Solar Tech Co., Ltd., Q-Cells AG, as well as integrated manufacturers of photovoltaic products such as SolarWorld AG. In the Chinese market, the company competes with Suntech Power Co., Ltd., China Sunergy Co., Ltd., Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd., Yingli Green Energy Holding Company, Limited and Jiangyin Jetion Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
History
JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. was founded in 2005.
