Chinese solar panel producers to dominate show

KUALA LUMPUR -- World's largest solar panel maker by capacity, Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd and its Chinese counterparts, JinkoSolar Holdings and Yingli Solar would dominate a large-scale Malaysian Green Energy exhibition due for October 10-13 as the country aggressively attracts industry players to exploit its abundant solar energy resources.

Malaysian Energy and Green Technology Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui told Xinhua in an interview on Friday that Malaysia encourages green technology producers to cooperate with the local companies, making Malaysia a green technology producing hub.

"I must say we very much welcome the Chinese manufacturers of Solar PV and LED lighting to come and participate in the exhibition," he said at a media preview for the third annual International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference.

"(The solar panel) manufacturers from China, who are already capable of penetrating the whole world... they can sign up for joint ventures with locals we want to promote solar because of our feed-in tariff, we want to promote solar usage in individual houses," he added.

Feed-in tariff, a government-led initiative introduced in many Southeast Asian countries, grants payments to small-scale green energy producers and tax exemptions for power companies.

Chin said Malaysia has set a target for 2,080 megawatts or 11 percent of all electricity generated in 2020 from renewable sources like solar.

Currently, green homes penetration rate in the country is only at 2 percent.

"Many manufacturers and users can take advantage of this basing their operations here. Chinese companies are welcomed to take advantage of our green technology financing scheme and base their operations here," Chin said.

In the national spending plan unveiled last Friday, the government announced additional quota to a total of 3.5 billion ringgit ($1.13 billion) in loan support, available for foreigners, as incentives to promote the development of green technology.

Malaysia's sources of green energy included sun, water, biogas and biomass.

The International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center will present participants from more 330 companies from over 20 countries.