Canadian Solar to build 500 MW project in China

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Chinese solar-cell maker Canadian Solar Inc said on Wednesday it obtained development rights for a 500 megawatt (MW) solar power plant system in China.

The news makes Canadian Solar the latest Chinese solar manufacturer to unveil plans for a large solar power project in China since the country last month launched a long-awaited plan to offer subsidies for the industry.

As the world's top greenhouse gas polluter, China is trying to catch up in a global race to find alternatives to fossil fuels, and many believe it will become a major market for solar power.

Since China announced its subsidy plan, domestic solar power companies including LDK Solar Co Ltd, Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, and ReneSola Ltd have announced plans to develop big solar power plants in China.

Canadian Solar said it signed a letter of intent with the administration committee of the Baotou National Rare Earth Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (CPT).

The plant will be located in CPT, which is in Inner Mongolia, and the project will be divided into three phases, Canadian Solar said.

A total of 100 MW of the photovoltaic system will be installed in the first phase, which will run from September 2009 to December 2011. About 200 MW each will be installed in the second and third phases, the company said.

The project is subject to a feasibility study and government approvals, the company said.

Shares of Canadian Solar were down about 1.3 percent at $14.74 on Wednesday on Nasdaq. The stock, which has risen nearly five-fold from a March year low, is still off more than 50 percent from an August 2008 year high.

(Laura Isensee in Los Angeles, with additional reporting by Adveith Nair in Bangalore ; Editing by Aradhana Aravindan and Gerald E. McCormick)