SunPower will invest up to $20m for a 4.6% stake in the venture with local partners Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor, Sichuan Development Holding, Leshan Electric Power and Tianjin Tsinlien Investment Holding.

The JV will deploy high-efficiency, low-concentration PV (LCPV) systems, based around SunPower’s C7 tracker technology.

Subject to approval by the Chinese authorities, the JV is expected to start operations next year,

Total-owned SunPower set up its first Chinese JV in 2012, and a C7 manufacturing facility is already up and running in Inner Mongolia, where the first projects will be built.

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