KSTAR (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Chinese company KSTAR Science and Technology Co. Ltd. has announced that it held a topping out ceremony for Phase 1 of its manufacturing base in the Vietnamese city of Haiphong in early March. “Topping out ceremony” is a ritual that is performed when the last beam is placed atop a structure during its construction. KSTAR manufactures residential inverters, PV inverters, energy storage systems, uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems, and other equipment used in data centers.
With an investment totaling around RMB 140 million, the whole Haiphong base will span an area of about 477715.34 square meters. Phase 1 itself occupies around 25,000 square meters. Following the topping out ceremony that was held on March 1 for the main building of Phase 1, KSTAR is now proceeding with interior works and equipment installation. The company said that the construction of the facility buildings under Phase 1 will be completed this June, and the entire section will be ready for operation by the end of 2022.
Products that will be shipped from the production lines of Phase 1 include energy storage systems, PV inverters, and UPS systems (that will be deployed in data centers). As for Phase 2, construction is expected to commence in 2024. Products that will be shipped from the production lines of Phase 2 include energy storage systems and EV charging piles.
KSTAR’s subsidiary in Vietnam primarily offers equipment related to data center infrastructure and a comprehensive range of products related to new energy technologies. Besides sales of hardware, the subsidiary also develops specific solutions and provides technical consultation. Its products and services are mainly for exportation to other countries. Moreover, some of its products including UPS systems, residential inverters, and equipment for PV generation and energy storage are being developed in-house.
According to KSTAR’s press release about the topping ceremony, Phase 1 will have a production capacity of 10,000 units per year for UPS systems, 1,000 units per year for modular data centers, and 1GW per year for PV inverters. Phase 1 will also employ about 200 workers, thus creating social and economic benefits for local communities.
KSTAR also stated that while data centers represent its cornerstone, the company is actively branching into the market for new energy technologies. The Haiphong base is therefore an important investment project that will immediately expand the company’s production capacity for products related to data center infrastructure and new energy solutions. Furthermore, the Vietnamese subsidiary will be targeting customers in other overseas markets, including Southeast Asia and Europe. The subsidiary will assist the parent company to expand abroad and establish operations in other regions to better serve customers worldwide.
According to available information, KSTAR entered the energy storage market in 2014 and has been accumulating its experience and advancing its technological capability. Presently, the company has established a comprehensive portfolio for energy storage solutions so as to meet the demand from the residential (both indoor and outdoor), commercial, and industrial segments. The company boasts that its equipment has been adopted to provide a stable source of power supply in extreme environments such as deserts, plateaus, and even the frigid Antarctica. Apart from China (the domestic market), KSTAR also serves customers from South Korea, Russia, the UK, the UAE, etc.