News and Research on Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (STP)
Business Description
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. operates as a solar energy company. The company engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of various PV cells and modules. It also provides PV system integration services in China. The company’s products are used to provide electric power for residential, commercial, industrial and public utility applications in various markets worldwide, including European countries such as Germany and Spain, as well as China and the United States. It sells products outside of China primarily through distributors and in China primarily to module manufacturers and end users directly.
Products and Services
The company offers a range of PV cells and modules. It also provides PV system integration services in China. Its products are used in a variety of residential, commercial, industrial and public utility applications, for both on-grid electricity generation and off-grid use, such as lighting for street lamps, garden lamps, telecommunications relay stations, and mobile phone networks.
Solar energy generation systems use interconnected PV cells to generate electricity from sunlight, a phenomenon commonly known as the photovoltaic effect. Most PV cells are constructed using specially processed silicon, which, when exposed to sunlight, generates electric current. Interconnected PV cells are packaged into PV modules, which protect the PV cells and collect the electricity generated. PV systems comprise of multiple PV modules, related power electronics and other components. PV systems are used for both on-grid generation, in which electricity generated is fed into an electricity transmission grid for sale, and off-grid generation for locations where access to the electricity transmission grid is not physically available.
PV Cells: A PV cell is a device made from a silicon wafer that converts sunlight into electricity by a process known as the photovoltaic effect. The company produces a variety of monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon PV cells.
PV Modules: A PV module is an assembly of PV cells that have been electrically interconnected and laminated in a weather-proof package. The company produces a variety of PV modules ranging from two to 240 watts in power, with higher output modules under development.
PV System Integration: A PV system consists of one or more PV modules that are physically mounted and electrically interconnected, with system components such as batteries and power electronics, to produce and reserve electricity. Typical residential on-grid systems contain between 10 and 60 PV modules and produce one to six kilowatt hours, or KWh, of electricity. PV system integration involves the design, installation and testing of PV systems. The company has designed and installed PV systems used in lighting for outdoor urban public facilities, in farms and villages, as well as in telecommunications and transportation systems.
Markets and Customers
The company sells its products outside of China primarily to distributors and in China primary to module manufacturers and end users directly. The company’s distributors include companies that are solar distributors, engineering and design firms and other energy product distributors. Some of its distributors are also installers, system integrators, property developers and other value-added resellers, who often add value to the system design by incorporating its PV cells or PV modules with batteries, power electronics, mounting structures and wiring systems. The company sells its PV products to module manufacturers and end users in China.
The company’s major international customers include Conergy AG, Atersa, IBC Solar AG, SolarWorld AG and Ibesolar Energia S.A
Suppliers
In 2006, the company entered into multi-year supply agreements with MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., Shanghai Comtec Solar Technology Co., Ltd., Sunlight Group, Inc. and Sumitomo Corporation in association with a division of Renewable Energy Corporation.
Competition
The company’s competitors include PV divisions of major conglomerates, such as BP Solar, Royal Sanyo Group, Sanyo Group and Sharp Corporation, specialized cell and module manufacturers such as Q-Cells, as well as integrated manufacturers of PV products such as Renewable Energy Corporation and SolarWorld AG.
History
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. was founded in 2001.
