Date:19/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/19/stories/2008091956911700.htm

Business

NeST to produce silicon solar panels

Staff Reporter

Signed a memorandum of understanding with EPV SOLAR of the U.S.

The total annual capacity will be around 420 MW
The facility is being built within the high-tech park

KOCHI: The Kochi-based NeST Hi-Tek Park Private Limited, part of the NeST group of companies has signed a memorandum of understanding with EPV SOLAR, headquartered in New Jersey in the United States to set up a manufacturing facility for silicon solar panels.

Robert Bryan, EPV SOLAR’s Chief Operating Officer and N. Jehangir, Managing Director of NeST Hi-Tek Park signed the MoU in the presence of the Industries Minister Elamaram Karim last week, said a press release here.

“The new facility is being designed to have a potential total annual capacity of up to 420 MW, which EPV anticipates can be achieved over three additional phases and within four years of commencing operations,” said the statement.

The proposed facility is being built within the high tech park being co-developed by the NeST company under an agreement with the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Authority (Kinfra).

Kochi’s advantageous geographical location close to the international maritime route is one of the reasons for the City being chosen for the building the proposed facility, the statement added.

With the International Container Trans-shipment Terminal on Vallarpadam Island being commissioned it would be possible to generate significant volume of products for solar power generation fro the facility.

The NeST group company is using 20 acres of the 30 acres leased from the Government of Kerala for developing high-technology industries. The City-based company has been evolving projects and is in the process of attracting more such investments in the area, the statement added.

It quoted the Mr. Jehangir as saying that his company also planned to build, on an experimental basis, solar farms in the State.

The planned solar panel manufacturing facility will use both the proprietary manufacturing technology available with EPV SOLAR and the company’s internally designed manufacturing process equipment, said the statement.

It is expected that the facility will employ around 4,000 people when fully operational.

EPV SOLAR India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of EPV SOLAR Inc., will serve as the company’s regional headquarters for Asia.