U.S. media reports that Intel Capital, the global investment arm of American chip maker Intel Corp, will invest USD20 million in Trony Solar Holdings, a Chinese thin-film solar cell company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.

The other two Chinese firms involved in Intel Capital's investment plans are NP Holdings, specializing in massive electricity storage systems, and View High, a software provider for the health-care industry.

Trony Solar Holdings and NP Holdings are Intel's first Chinese cleantech investments, according to Stephen Eichenlaub, managing director of Intel Capital.

Despite the global financial turmoil, Intel Capital says that it remains committed to the China market and has no plans to slow down investment in the mainland. Intel Capital managing director for the Asia and Pacific Region, Cadol Cheung, stated that the USD500 million Intel Technology Fund II, which was launched in April, has invested in six projects so far.

Trony Solar Corporation was established in 1993. It is one of the biggest domestic manufacturers of solar energy and solution program suppliers.