Chinese manufacturer helps Turkey better tap solar energy

ISTANBUL - China Sunergy Co Ltd (CSUN), a leading manufacturer of solar cells and modules, has been sharing its experience and business model with Turkey to help the country better tap solar power in its renewable energy development.

CSUN, the largest producer of photovoltaics in Turkey, has two workshops running and employs more than 500 local workers, said Sun Zheng, project development manager of CSUN Turkey.

CSUN Turkey, also known as CSUN Eurasia Energy Systems Industry and Trade Inc, is headquartered in Tuzla, a town about 50 minutes' drive from Istanbul.

Turkey started efforts to generate power with solar energy in 2011, and its photovoltaic capacity now stands at 1 gigawatt, according to Sun.

He expressed the hope that Turkey will take better advantage of its abundant natural light in the future.

The two workshops, in Tuzla, produce some 5,200 pieces of solar modules per day for CSUN Turkey, which exports about 80 percent of its products to European and US markets, Sun said.

In addition to Turkey, CSUN has also set up workshops in South Korea and Vietnam and is opening one in the US state of California.