London, ON, June 26, 2013 – Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. (Samsung) announced today that it has reached a partnership agreement with Canadian Solar Inc. (Canadian Solar) to open a new manufacturing facility in London, Ontario. This plant will bring 200 local manufacturing jobs to London by the end of 2013, as promised in the Green Energy Investment Agreement (GEIA) between Samsung and the Government of Ontario.
The facility will produce solar PV Modules and Medium Voltage Power Stations. This plant will supply Samsung’s Ontario solar projects, such as the 100 megawatt (MW) Grand Renewable Energy Park in Haldimand County, the 100 MW Sol-Luce Kingston Solar PV project in Kingston and Loyalist Township, and future solar projects within the GEIA. The new facility will also be a hub for Canadian Solar to conduct research and product development associated with solar energy generation.
The Canadian Solar plant also ensures Samsung can move forward with engineering, procurement and construction jobs in its project communities around Ontario. In total, Samsung’s GEIA project will create 9,000 renewable energy jobs across the province.
“Samsung believes that renewable energy is a very important part of eliminating our dependence on dirty coal production and protecting the air that we breathe,” says Ki-Jung Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung C&T. “We are very pleased to create 200 green jobs in London and 9,000 total jobs in communities across Ontario that have been hit hard by the global recession.”
“We are proud to be partnering with Samsung Renewable Energy to expand the use of solar energy while at the same time creating green manufacturing jobs in Canada,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar. “This latest transaction highlights our rapidly growing downstream solar power solutions business, as we develop manufacturing capabilities for Balance of Plant equipment, such as Medium Voltage Stations, while also conducting research in project solutions areas to reduce total project cost and improve performance. We are leveraging the scale afforded by our global leadership position, our experience and extensive resources to ultimately benefit Ontario economically through significant job creation and to provide a much needed sustainable, renewable source of energy."
Samsung and its partners will develop 300 MW of clean, renewable solar power in Ontario, part of a commitment to invest $5-billion in the development of 1,369 MW of renewable energy.
Canadian Solar becomes Samsung’s fourth renewable energy manufacturing partner in Ontario, joining Siemens in Tillsonburg, CS Wind in Windsor, and SMA in Toronto. Together, the four manufacturing facilities will employ 900 manufacturing workers. Samsung will support all of its manufacturing partners’ efforts to develop export markets beyond the GEIA project.
Information about employment opportunities and how to apply will be shared as the partners work towards the facility opening over the coming months.
About Samsung Renewable Energy Inc.
Samsung Renewable Energy is creating clean, renewable energy for generations to come. Together with our partners, Samsung is making a $5-billion investment in Ontario to create the world’s largest cluster of wind and solar power. Our investments will create 900 direct renewable energy manufacturing jobs and 9,000 high-skilled jobs in Ontario. Built on Samsung C&T’s commercial and technical expertise and the success of its renewable energy projects in several countries – including the United States and Europe – Samsung is creating real jobs, through real investment, benefitting real people. For more information, please visit www.samsungrenewableenergy.ca.
About Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)
Founded in 2001 in Canada, Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is one of the world's largest and foremost solar power companies. As a leading vertically integrated provider of solar modules, specialized solar products and solar power plants with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Asia, Canadian Solar has delivered more than 4GW of premium quality solar modules to customers in over 50 countries. Canadian Solar is committed to improve the environment and dedicated to provide advanced solar energy products, solutions and services to enable sustainable development around the world. For more information, please visit www.canadiansolar.com.
Media contacts:
Samsung Renewable Energy Inc.:
Marcus Staviss
mstaviss@counselpa.com
416-920-0716 ext. 210
Canadian Solar Solutions Inc.:
Suzanne Wilson
Suzanne.wilson@canadiansolar.com
519-837-1881
