A three-way strategic joint development agreement has been made between three Chinese companies that will see solar technology installed throughout the country’s public railway infrastructure.

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a developer of state-of-the-art, flexible, thin-film photovoltaic modules, announced yesterday it has entered into a three-way strategic joint development agreement with Shenzhen Radiant Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Third Railway Survey and Design Institute Group Corporation of China.

Radiant has been responsible for installing the roofing component on multiple railway station projects throughout China and is a natural choice to help retrofit existing railway stations with solar technology, and to help in new installations. TSDI, on the other hand, has designed over 50, 000 kilometres of railways throughout China, including the country’s first high-speed railway and first heavy-haul railway. The company also designed the large-scale multi-modal transport hub, the Beijing South Railway Station.

The total volume of solar installation on Chinese public infrastructure is expected to reach 800 MW over the next five years. System design and engineering development will take place soon, with initial project installations to begin in 2013.

“We are honoured to be involved with TSDI through this very important partnership, which will promote Ascent Solar’s transformational technology in a high-profile sector of China’s public infrastructure. This year, we look forward to working closely with TSDI and Radiant to design and develop systems to be installed beginning in 2013,” stated Victor Lee, Ascent Solar President and CEO.

Winston Xu, Founder of Shenzhen Radiant Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Ascent Solar Board Member, said “China’s state-of-the-art railway system is one of the largest and fastest growing in the world. Ascent Solar and Radiant Group feel privileged to work with TSDI towards the goal of incorporating green, renewable energy with this important piece of China’s infrastructure.”