Bosch Solar Energy AG will make a decision on the technology to use for its RM2.2bil solar panel manufacturing plant in Batu Kawan, Penang, at year-end.
Its vice-president, Lars-Oliver Stock, said the pricing of solar panels in the international market had dropped between 30 per cent and 40 per cent.
“Thus we have to find a cost-saving technology that can produce solar panels cost-effectively. We expect to make a decision by the end of 2012 and only then we will decide on the construction date,” he said at the launch of the RM7mil photovoltaic system for its Bayan Lepas plant on Saturday by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
The time taken to complete the plant would depend on the technology adopted, Stock added.
Tomorrow, Bosch Solar Energy will sign a sales and purchase for the 80-acre land in Batu Kawan with the state government.
Stock said the down payment for the land to be used for the plant had been paid.
Meanwhile, Bosch Penang commercial managing director Michael Kloss said an investment of RM42mil would be made this year and RM55mil in 2013 for the Bayan Lepas plant to boost the production of multimedia system, comprising audio and GPS navigation components, for cars.
Last year the growth in the turnover from the automobile multimedia system division was between 30 per cent and 40 per cent. “This year we are also expecting the same growth. We have yet to see the impact of the global crisis on the automotive sector,” he said.
Kloss said as a provider of technology and services, about 45 per cent of Bosch’s research and development budget, approximately 4 million euros, was spent on developing products that would protect the environment and conserve resources.
“On top of that, Bosch files more than 4,100 patents each year, which is about 16 per working day, and 43 per cent of these patents are dedicated to environmental protection and resource conservation.”
