Astronergy, Alfa Solar launch $200m Turkey wafer and cell factory

Nov 18, 2025 10:33 AM ET

• Astronergy Europe and Alfa Solar will invest $200 million to build an integrated 2.5-GW wafer and solar cell plant in Turkey.

Astronergy Europe, part of China’s Chint Group, and Turkey’s Alfa Solar Enerji are teaming up on an integrated wafer-and-cell manufacturing venture in Turkey, committing an initial $200 million. The partners plan an annual capacity of 2.5 GW at launch—big enough to feed a sizable share of Turkey’s module assembly market and to support exports as European buyers look to diversify supply.

Integration is the headline. By moving upstream into wafering—and not just cells—the JV can control more of the cost stack, protect against polysilicon and wafer price swings, and tailor specs for high-efficiency cell formats. If the line is configured for TOPCon or heterojunction from day one, it can slot into modern module designs without costly retooling later.

Turkey offers practical advantages: a growing domestic solar market, customs arrangements that ease access to European customers, and an industrial base with skilled labor and logistics. Government support—land, utilities, and permitting facilitation—often accompanies strategic manufacturing projects, though details weren’t disclosed.

The execution checklist is familiar but unforgiving. Crystal growth, slicing, texturing and doping are yield-sensitive steps; scrap rates and tool uptime can make or break early economics. Securing a steady stream of high-quality polysilicon and consumables—and locking in service support from equipment vendors—will be as important as the ribbon-cutting.

Downstream, the JV will need anchor customers. Multi-year cell supply agreements with module makers—both local and regional—can stabilize utilization through the ramp. Certification and bankability packages for European buyers, including carbon footprint disclosures, will help win share in public and corporate procurement.

If the partners hit their milestones, Turkey gains another pillar in its solar industrial chain, and buyers gain a new source of high-efficiency cells with fewer logistics headaches. If not, the project risks becoming another ambitious announcement that never quite reaches nameplate.

For now, the signal is clear: more upstream capacity is coming closer to end markets, and integration is back in fashion.