SHENZHEN: Like everything in this city, change happens quickly.

The most urgent task facing Li Yi at the moment is to accelerate the construction of a spacious factory to handle an influx of new orders.

The general manager of Shenzhen TRONY Solar Science & Technology Development Co, one of the leading solar cell and panel suppliers in the city, says the company has lost orders worth millions of yuan simply due to a limited production capacity.

"Production could barely satisfy existing clients and new orders were impossible," Li says.

Last year, TRONY's revenues reached approximately 50 million yuan (US$6.2 million). The orders they turned down, however, were worth more than 100 million yuan (US$12.3 million).

Li founded the company in 1993, two years after the mechanical engineering major graduated from Shenzhen University. The school is an Asian leader in the production of amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells that can turn weak solar power into electrical energy.

The 36-year-old says he is more comfortable with scientific innovation than running businesses.

"It's strange to say that I have no idea how to run the company. It has been around for more than a decade and is quite profitable, but I would rather focus on research and invention," Li says.

He invented internal-connected amorphous silicon solar cells and patented them in 1997. The scientific community lavished praise and gave him a number of awards, including the Silver Prize at the Beijing International Invention Exhibition in 1996 and a gold medal at the 94th Paris International Invention Exhibition in 2004.

The cell is an excellent power supply for low watt electronic appliances under lights, especially fluorescent lights. The invention was put into mass production quickly for use in solar-powered watches, UV test metres, remote controllers and calculators.

Manufacturers of solar-powered products regularly contact Li and place orders with him. TRONY currently supplies more than 90 per cent of its solar cells to the foreign market, including patented a-Si solar cells, mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline silicon solar cells .

"I didn't expect the business would grow so quickly. In four years we moved from an office on the fifth floor to the eighth floor and expanded the workshop to cover the whole fifth floor. But now, it is obviously too small," Li says.

The 3,400 square metre workshop is located in the city's old Bagualing Industrial Zone, which flourished throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The area has since suffered somewhat after many companies relocated to other newer industrial zones.

"I didn't intend to build a new factory even if the lost orders were worth as much as annual revenues. But now we are missing out on 100 million to 200 million yuan (US$12.3 million to US$24.7 million) every year, which prompted me to buy land and expand production capacity immediately," Li says.

He bought property in the Baolong Industrial Zone, on the outskirts of Bao'an District. Plans include a modern, 45,000 square metre workshop.

"Construction is expected to hit around 100 million yuan (US$12.3 million), but I hope it will produce a billion yuan (US$123.3 million) over the next few years," Li says.

Li will design and install a showroom in the new production base that will be made of solar-powered building materials.

TRONY was commissioned by the Ministry of Construction last year to develop solar-powered building materials, which are recommended by the ministry and will soon be used nationwide.

"Although most Chinese cities are facing escalating energy shortages and environmental deterioration, they are not using enough clean and efficient solar energy."

In a city like Shenzhen, which has more than 200 sunny days a year, it's rare to see solar street lights, solar bus stations or solar telephone booths.

"The local government should pay more attention to the development of the solar power supply system and encourage public utility constructors and citizens to use these products," Li says.

"It's not just for the sake of companies but for the healthy and consistent development of the city."

Shenzhen has been China's major production hub for solar or photovoltaic panels, according to Global Sources, a US transnational company providing Chinese supplier and product information to foreign buyers.

The city's exports of solar panels account for 70 per cent of those from Guangdong Province, which exported more than US$261 million worth from January 2003 to July 2004. The province's shipments made up 41 per cent of China's total, the report said.

(China Daily 09/05/2005 page2)