Yingli Solar raises its corporate flag in Australia

According to a recently released Climate Commission report on Australia’s solar energy future, the Australian solar PV market - currently at approximately 2.4 GW - will be producing 29% of the country’s electricity by 2050. Commercial Director Daman Cole will lead Yingli Solar’s business in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific from the Yingli Green Energy Australian office, which was officially opened by NSW Government Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy Rob Stokes and Yingli Solar Vice President Judy Lee in Sydney on 8 August.

“Yingli Solar is a world leader in providing high-efficiency solar electricity, delivering excellent cost savings on electricity bills for our customers,” said Cole.

Cole said the company has already established a pathway for further expansion through the City of Sydney, the company’s first major customer in Australia, and it has also set up a distribution agreement with L&H Solar + Solutions, a subsidiary of L& H Group. L&H Solar + Solutions will distribute Yinglis Solar’s Panda Monocrystalline PV products, as well as its high-end polycrystalline YGE PV products, through its network of more than 160 outlets and over 2000 installers across Australia and New Zealand.

The City of Sydney, managed by installation partner Solgen Energy, is set to deliver Australia’s largest collective building-mounted PV solar program featuring approximately 5500 Yingli Solar panels installed on 30 major buildings, including grandstands, depots and libraries. This project will yield a total electrical capacity or more than 1250 kW.

Other key customers that are currently rolling out installations of Yingli Solar panels include: a 70 kW project by Marquis Bathroom Products in Port Stephens NSW; EnviroGroup has completed installations of a 90 kW ground-mounted project at Balgownie Estate in Bendigo, Victoria; a 135 kW project at Monash University in Frankston, Victoria; and a 60 kW project at the Monash Business Incubator at Mulgrave, Victoria.

Lee said: “Australia has established a strong reputation of being at the forefront of adopting solar photovoltaic technologies in the Asia-Pacific region. By having a direct presence in Australia, we are tapping into a market that has strong growth potential and a mature view and understanding of solar energy.”

Yingli Solar was established in 1987. Its vertically integrated production factory in China has delivered more than 26 million panels or the equivalent of over 6 GW of solar energy to homes, businesses and utilities in more than 40 countries.

Stokes said: “This is great news for Sydney and great news for NSW’s growing reputation as a leading centre in the Asia-Pacific for energy technology and services.

“The latest IBIS report on Renewable Energy in Australia shows NSW is home to around 45% of the renewable energy companies in Australia.

“Yingli's decision to locate their new Australian office in Sydney is yet further confirmation of our strong investment appeal for the international renewables sector.”