As part of its hard-driven restructuring project, Hyundai Heavy Industries announced Friday that it will concentrate on the solar power business, increasing the production of high-efficiency solar cells starting next year.

The company said that it will change all solar cell products to passivated emitter with rear locally diffused, or PERL, from the current two tracks of producing both PERL and general type cells. The PERL cells are known to generate 5 percent more power than the general type cells.

Hyundai has started developing original technology to produce PERL cells since 2010. Should it transit the system, the company will be have the capacity to produce more than 200 megawatt-batteries a year.

“The global solar power market is showing a steady increase thanks to the rising demand in developed countries. We will continue our efforts to reinforce our brand status in the U.S., Japan and Europe,” a company official said.

Hyundai Heavy has been undergoing intensive business restructuring after posting 1.5 trillion won in losses in the first half of this year. The company has decided to partially cease the production of construction equipment and trim several other unprofitable businesses. The solar power business posted 312 billion won in sales with 16.5 billion won in operating losses last year.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)