Hanwha’s solar power chief named as advisor at U.S. green energy investment firm

Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan speaks at Hanwha Solutions factory in Dalton, Georgia on April 6. (local) [Photo provided by Hanwha Group]

Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan has been appointed as a senior advisor at Sandbrook Capital, a U.S. investment firm focused on renewable energy, marking the first time for Kim to hold an official title outside the South Korean conglomerate.

According to industry sources on Monday, Kim was named as one of the seven senior advisors at Sandbrook Capital earlier this year. The investment firm located in Stamford, Connecticut, runs a portfolio of green energy developers and renewable energy infrastructure companies, with assets under management of $4 billion as of now.

Kim’s involvement in a renewable energy investment company in the U.S. is seen as a move to gain detailed insights into the trends within the local renewable energy industry. As a senior advisor to the investment firm, he will be able to access regular updates on internal investment reports, as well as market conditions and outlook reports.

He will also have the opportunity to actively engage with investment company executives, relevant government officials, and other industry players.

Kim, the eldest son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon, has been leading the group’s renewable energy sector since becoming the vice chief of Hanwha Solutions Corp. in 2022. He is officially in charge of the company’s strategic department. He has been involved in the group’s solar power business since joining Hanwha Corp. in 2010 and moving to Hanwha SolarOne Co.’s planning team the following year.

Kim has been known for his sincere dedication to the renewable energy business, and even uses the ID “Green Energy” on the social media platform Clubhouse.

Kim spends about half a year in the U.S. overseeing the group’s local solar business, according to sources.

Hanwha Solutions’ Q Cell division is currently the top player in the U.S. solar module market. In January, Hanwha Solutions announced plans to invest $2.5 billion to build a solar hub in Dalton and Bartow County, Georgia, by next year. The company plans to cover one third of the U.S. solar panel demand by 2027 through this project.