Yingli Green Energy has announced it has started construction on two ground-mounted Yingli Solar panel based power plants in Hebei Province.
The projects, which will have a combined capacity of 25 megawatts, are located in the cities of Baoding and Xingtai.
Total investment is expected to exceed RMB 200 million (USD 33 million). Around 75% of the investment will be funded by committed loans from Chinese banks and approximately 25% from Yingli China.
The two facilities will generate approximately 28,700 MWh of clean electricity annually, avoiding the burning of 9,300 tons of coal and associated 28,700 tons of carbon emissions each year over the systems’ 25-year operational lifespan.
“These projects will further consolidate our leading position in the industry not only as a PV manufacturer, but also as a solar energy solutions provider,” said Mr. Yiyu Wang, Chief Financial Officer of Yingli Green Energy. “In the meantime, we are in talks with a potential buyer on sale of the projects to such buyer after their completion.”
Late last week Yingli Green Energy also announced it had filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The associated presentation shows 2013 sales increased by over 150% year-over-year in the USA; Yingli’s highest annual volume. Total US sales volume in the final quarter last year was the company’s second highest quarterly volume since it commenced operations.
Latin America emerged as a key market for Yingli last year, with sales increasing by 114% quarter over quarter. Last year saw the company selling its first utility-scale projects in Chile and Ecuador.
With regard to Europe, Yingli states IHS research shows the company became the leading supplier in Germany in 2013, having shipped twice the volume of Yingli Solar panels as its nearest competitor.