From Kulim in Kedah to Butterworth in Penang and across the South China Sea to Bintulu, Sarawak, factories in Malaysia are churning out solar panels by the millions.

Powered by investments from countries like China (Jinko Solar), Japan (Panasonic), South Korea (Hanwha Qcells), and the United States (First Solar, SunEdison and SunPower), thousands of workers at these factories are helping to make Malaysia the world’s third largest manufacturer of solar panels.