Hanwha Q Cells Co., the world's leading solar cell maker, said Wednesday it has built a solar plant in Turkey, and plans to expand its capacity there as part of an effort to tap deeper into emerging markets.

The South Korean solar cell maker has completed a plant with a capacity of 8.3 megawatts in the province of Burdur. Hanwha Q Cells plans to expand the plant with a capacity of 18.3 MW by 2016, the company said.

The plant, when completed, will be Turkey's largest solar plant, according to the cell maker.

Turkey has emerged as a country that wants to reduce energy imports by nurturing its solar power industry.

The solar power market for Turkey is estimated at 610 MW next year, compared with this year's 340 MW, according to the company.

Hanwha Q Cells has been making inroads into some lucrative markets for solar energy developers, such as India and the Philippines. (Yonhap)