(EnergyAsia, September 21 2010, Tuesday) — The Hanlong Group, a Sichuan, China-based industrial conglomerate involved in solar power generation, wastewater treatment, infrastructure development and mining, last week announced plans for its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sichuan Zhonghan Solar Power Co Ltd, to set up its international headquarters in Singapore.

Along with the new regional office, Zhonghan Solar will be investing $100 million in the research and development of solar energy solutions and assembly of concentration photovoltaic (CPV) systems.

Through its new Singapore base, Hanlong will be managing its global solar business outside China, including the assembly and sale of its concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems, as well as the management of its solar farm projects targeted for markets in Australia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The company will also set up a CPV R&D centre which will collaborate with the Solar Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS).

One of Sichuan’s top 20 largest private companies, Hanlong leads the photovoltaic sector in China. CPV systems employ sunlight concentrated onto photovoltaic surfaces for the purpose of electrical power production.

Hanlong said it has obtained patents in China for over 30 CPV and solar power related technologies and products, and the group is investing RMB7.6 billion to set up the world’s largest CPV plant in Chengdu city in Sichuan province. (US$1=RMB6.72).

Liu Han, chairman of Hanlong Group, said, “We chose to set up Zhonghan Solar’s first international headquarters outside China here in Singapore because of its sterling reputation as a global hub for clean energy, in particular solar energy. In addition, Singapore’s vibrant economy and its status as an Asian financial hub helped in our decision to invest here.

“The group hopes to use Singapore as a spring board to international markets, as we seek to promote our solar energy solutions to the rest of Australia, Middle East and Southeast Asia.”

Goh Chee Kiong, director of cleantech at the Singapore Economic Development Board, said:

“We are excited that Hanlong Group, a leader in concentrated photovoltaic (CPV), has chosen Singapore for its international headquarters, R&D and system assembly centre for its solar business. This investment will expand our solar ecosystem and contribute to the development of Singapore as a global clean energy hub. It also affirms the attractiveness of Singapore as the internationalisation platform for clean energy companies from China, now regarded as a world leader in sustainable energy.”