JA Solar, MEMC to build photovoltaic plant

JA Solar and MEMC said they will form a 50-50 joint venture to build a 250-megawatt facility at JA's site in Yangzhou to make solar cells, which are put together to create solar panels.

The solar industry is coming off its biggest year ever in sales, and companies around the world are spending heavily to increase their production capacity and grab a larger share of the market.

The plant is expected to begin commercial production in the second half of the year, and could eventually grow to a production capacity of 1,000 MW.