Image: SoleFior

Zhuhai-based SoleFiori Technology, also known as Hongjun New Energy, has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabian partners to establish a 6 GW heterojunction (HJT) solar module manufacturing facility in the Kingdom.

The plant will produce high-efficiency HJT modules optimized for desert climates. While the exact site location and equity structure have not been disclosed, the project is intended to serve as a regional hub for Saudi Arabia and neighboring markets.

According to SoleFiori, its HJT modules deliver bifaciality above 95%, enabling higher energy yields by capturing reflected sunlight. The modules also feature a low temperature coefficient, ensuring stable performance under the extreme heat conditions typical of the Gulf region.

The initiative aligns with Riyadh’s Vision 2030, which aims to deploy 40 GW to 58 GW of solar capacity by the end of the decade, with a requirement that 75% of solar components be manufactured domestically.

For SoleFiori, the project strengthens its international presence while mitigating tariff risks by locating production closer to demand. For Saudi Arabia, it accelerates technology transfer, job creation, and the diversification of its industrial base.

More broadly, the Gulf region is evolving into not only a major solar deployment market but also a manufacturing hub. Chinese solar producers are increasingly shifting from exporting equipment to establishing localized production, a structural shift that could reshape global PV supply chains.

SoleFiori joins a growing wave of Chinese investment in Saudi Arabia’s solar sector. In July 2024, JinkoSolar launched a joint venture with Renewable Energy Localization Co. and Vision Industries to develop a 10 GW cell and module plant, while TCL Zhonghuan announced plans for a 20 GW ingot and wafer facility with the same partners.