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 In March 2004, SunPower Corporation finished constructing a large-scale solar cell manufacturing facility in the Philippines with an initial yearly capacity of 25 megawatts (MW), which is now being expanded to a scale of 100 MW by 2006. This is the first such facility in the Philippines , and the first significant investment in advanced solar cell manufacturing in a USAID-assisted country. The average cell efficiency is the highest mass produced anywhere in the world today. As a result of this investment and expansion, the Philippines is now positioned to become one of the leading manufacturers of solar cells in the world. |
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The high efficiencies of these cells, resulting in lower space requirement for a given generating capacity, make the modules particularly attractive for grid-connected solar systems in the U.S., European, and Japanese markets, as well as for rural power applications in the Philippines and elsewhere. The majority of the production from this factory will be exported, and a portion will be devoted to the domestic market. In accordance with its major new role in the Philippines, SunPower is interested in expanding the local solar energy industry in the Philippines , including building a stronger supply infrastructure for reaching rural markets, and is committed to working to promote rural economic and social development with clean, reliable solar energy systems. |
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