Suntech and Gunkul Engineering Collaborate on 63MW of Solar Projects in Thailand

-- The 63MW project, owned by Gunkul Engineering, will offset 1,330,000 tons of carbon over 25 years.

WUXI, China, May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Suntech has announced today that it will supply approximately 63 megawatts (MW) of solar panels to 8 separate Gunkul Engineering projects being constructed across Thailand. The projects are expected to be grid connected and operational by the end of 2015.

"Suntech has shipped more than 260MW of panels to various projects throughout Thailand. Working side-by-side, in a strong partnership with Gunkul Engineering, we're proud to continue supporting Thailand's important solar market," said Haibo Xiong, president of Suntech. "We have recently upgraded all our solar panels to a four busbar module. These panels are well suited for Thailand's hot and humid climate, providing higher power performance, while reducing the probability of micro-cracks and hotspots."

Suntech is supplying the Gunkul Engineering projects with its Vem series modules, which are compatible with utility-scale size power installations. The solar plants are expected to generate 94,000 MWh of electricity per year, enough to power approximately 24,000 households, while reducing approximately 56,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.

"We chose to partner with Suntech particularly because of their continual investment in research and development and product performance enhancement, which had allowed Suntech to deliver the highest performing solar modules available in the market," said Ms. Sopacha Dhumrongpiyawut, president of Gunkul Engineering. "Suntech has a proven track record in Thailand, when it comes to performance and quality, as seen with the panels provided to the Sunny Bangchak solar project. Following the floods in 2011, the panels were submerged in water for 2 months. When the water finally receded, 80% of the panels were still producing solar," she noted.

Suntech will be present at Renewable Energy Asia 2015 in Bangkok from June 03 to 06, 2015, booth number C19. The following products will be featured at the exhibition: the 'HyPro' with PERC technology, whose mass production cell efficiency can reach an average of 20.5%; an integrated AC module designed for the residential market, which produces a high energy yield at lower installation and maintenance costs; and a standard module that is suitable for both rooftop and utility projects. The products are all PID free and provide high performance yields in low light conditions. Along with excellent, international customer service, Suntech's products come with a 10-year product warranty.

About Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd.
Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in the PRC in January 2001, produces industry-leading solar products for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility applications. Suntech is a Bloomberg New Energy Finance tier 1 solar company, based on its bankability and has delivered more than 30 million photovoltaic panels or 9 GWs of installed capacity to more than 1 thousand customers in more than 80 countries. Suntech's pioneering R&D creates customer-centric innovations that are driving solar to grid parity against fossil fuels. Suntech's mission is to provide reliable access to nature's cleanest and most abundant energy source.

About Gunkul Engineering Public Company Limited
Gunkul Engineering Public Company Limited was established on August 5, 1982 by Mr. Gunkul Dhumrongpiyawut. The company originally imported electrical equipment to support the fast-growing economy in Thailand. The company's subsidiaries include G.K. Assembly Co., Ltd., which produces and assembles protective equipment used in the electrical power transmission system, and G.K. Power Products Co., Ltd, which produces low- and high-voltage electrical equipment. Business operations and support for the subsidiaries are provided by GK Group.