A giant 1.6 gigawatt crystalline silicon plant recently kicked off production in Baotou city in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, according to a Jan 22 report in the Baotou Daily.

Crystalline silicon is the main semiconducting material used in photovoltaic technology for the production of solar cells that go into solar panels.

The project was developed by a subsidiary of JA Solar, based in Baotou. JA Solar Holdings is a solar company founded in Shanghai in 2005. It designs, develops, manufactures and sells solar cell and solar panels for individual consumers and solar power plants. 

The company has set up more than 12 production plants and more than 20 units in more than 100 countries and regions. Its products are widely used in terrestrial photovoltaic power plants, as well as in industrial and commercial and residential photovoltaic power distribution systems.

Officials said that with its technological innovation, solid financial performance and its well-developed global sales and service network, JA Solar has been patronized by domestic and international customers for many years.

The group has been listed among the Fortune China Top 500 and Global Top 500 New Energy Companies.