Q.CELLS North America, a subsidiary of Q-Cells SE and global leader in designing, building and managing financially sustainable solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions, has successfully completed the final stage of construction of a 69 megawatt (DC) solar energy project in Ontario, Canada.

The project was completed in partnership with Starwood Energy Group Global, LLC, a private investment firm focused on energy infrastructure projects. With the "SSM3" plant now operational, Q.CELLS makes up 15 percent of the Ontario utility-scale solar market.

Q.CELLS and Starwood Energy began this project in October 2010 with SSM1, a 24MW (DC) plant, followed by SSM2, a 34MW DC plant. With the completion of the latest 11 MW (DC) SSM3 solar energy plant, the Starwood project is the largest silicon crystalline PV project in North America and among the largest in the world.

Q.CELLS is the partner of choice for forward-looking customers who want long-term, reliable and predictable energy solutions requiring cost-competitive, quality PV modules, systems or services.

"We are proud to be a part of this important project in Ontario," said Himanshu Saxena, Senior Vice President of Starwood Energy. "With Q.CELLS, we didn't just get a reliable partner; we got an entire ecosystem of global and local partners working together as a unified team to ensure that this project would succeed."

Modeled data and improvements in PV materials offer greater predictability due to more consistent standard developments in performance. As utilities prepare to make sizeable investments in renewable energy generation, solar PV companies that offer a guaranteed return on investment (ROI) to their utility customers will have a clear competitive advantage.

Q.CELLS recognized a need in the market to deliver a new model that offers the depth and quality of data to guarantee system performance and maximize customers ROI.

"With our unrivaled expertise in solar energy system design and construction, our dedication to quality and our global network of partners, Q.CELLS is ideally positioned to offer customers a sustainable return on their investments in solar energy," said Boris Schubert, CEO of Q.CELLS North America.

"Despite global economic challenges, Ontario's solar market has grown rapidly. Q.CELLS looks forward to working with our partners to continue solar energy integration in Ontario and elsewhere in North America."