MEMC to buy solar modules from JA Solar (St. Louis)

Chinese solar cell maker JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. said Tuesday that it has an agreement to supply high-performance solar modules to MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. starting in the third quarter this year and continuing through 2012.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Shanghai, China-based JA Solar Holdings (Nasdaq: JASO) sells its products to solar manufacturers worldwide serving the residential, commercial and utility power generation markets.

St. Louis-based MEMC’s SunEdison unit develops solar power projects.

Sean Hunkler, MEMC's senior vice president of customer advocacy, said in a statement of the deal with JA Solar, "Our two companies have complementary strengths in their respective segments of the solar value chain, and we look forward to a mutually beneficial long-term partnership with JA Solar."

JA Solar's chief executive, Peng Fang, said in a statement that the deal diversifies JA Solar’s geographic presence and provides the company with access to MEMC’s large project development pipeline.

Last week, MEMC completed its $76 million purchase of Solaicx, a maker of silicon ingots for the solar industry.

Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal.