Suntech will supply solar modules, and design and manage the installation of the solar plant. Suntech holds a minority share of the project.

The Dongtai solar plant, which is targeted to be completed by the end of 2009, will be powered by more than 37,000 Suntech solar panels. The project is expected to be supported by the Jiangsu Province's feed-in-tariff policy that provides 2.15 RMB/kWh for ground-mount solar projects completed in 2009, Suntech says.

Suntech's Chairman and CEO Dr Zhengrong Shi says: "We applaud the positive incentive policies and decisive steps taken in 2009 both at national and provincial levels to support solar energy development and establish a greener economy in our country. In particular, Jiangsu Province has shown great leadership with the introduction of their solar subsidy earlier this year. We are also pleased to see that other provinces are developing similar policies that will encourage greater investment in solar projects in China."

The project will be the first to be initiated through Suntech's strategic agreement with HNE announced in July 2009, under which the two partners will develop utility-scale and commercial roof-top solar projects in China's western provinces, Jiangsu province and Shanghai.