Suntech Power

What Suntech Power does

Suntech Power Holdings Co is a Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer founded in 2001 in Wuxi, China, with 10,000+ employees. The company produces high-efficiency solar panels leveraging PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) technology — which it was the first major commercializer of through founder Zhengrong Shi's direct lineage to pioneering researcher Martin Green at UNSW — and quarter-cut cell technology to improve cell efficiency and power output. Suntech serves the global solar energy market across utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications through a horizontal hardware sales model.

The company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005 as the first Chinese solar firm to do so, an event that triggered industry-wide investment and drove a 100x reduction in solar panel prices. Historically, Suntech expanded via acquisitions including MSK Corp. ($107M in 2006) and Jiangsu Shunda Semiconductor Development ($101.9M in 2008). Currently, Suntech faces structural headwinds: its PERC product has been delisted from TaiyangNews rankings as the industry phases out older technology, and the broader PV sector is grappling with 35-40% idle global capacity due to oversupply and depressed margins. In response, Suntech joined the Space Energy Development Alliance in June 2026 alongside GCL Technology and Trina Solar to explore space-based solar energy markets, with China targeting commercial gigawatt-scale space solar by 2050.

Name

Suntech Power

Legal name

Suntech Power Holdings Co

Website

http://www.suntech-power.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Suntech Power is a Chinese solar photovoltaic module manufacturer based in Wuxi, founded in 2001, producing high-efficiency PERC and quarter-cut solar panels for utility, commercial, and residential markets globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film) (EUAMABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Photovoltaic solar panels
• PERC solar cells
• Solar PV modules
• Solar panel manufacturing
• High-efficiency solar cells

Headquarters

HQ city

Wuxi

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Solar Panel Manufacturing and Sales: Suntech generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of photovoltaic solar panels and modules, leveraging advanced PERC and quarter-cut technologies to produce high-efficiency solar products for global markets.

Core offering

Suntech Power manufactures and sells high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and modules for the global solar energy market. Its products are built on proprietary PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) technology—the dominant PV cell architecture used in roughly 90% of solar panels worldwide—and quarter-cut cell technology that further improves cell efficiency and power output. These panels are sold to utility-scale, commercial, and residential solar installation markets.

Product overview

Suntech Power is a solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer that produces solar panels. Based on the available sources, the company has historically produced PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) technology solar panels. However, as of early 2026, Suntech's PERC product was delisted from the TaiyangNews TOP SOLAR MODULES rankings as the industry phase-out of older technology continues. The company is also involved in the Space Energy Development Alliance for space-based solar energy research alongside other major Chinese solar manufacturers including GCL Technology and Trina Solar. Suntech was founded by Zhengrong Shi and listed on the NYSE in 2005.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PERC-Based Solar PV Modules
• Quarter-Cut High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules

Quantifiable outcome

• Solar panel prices dropped by factor of 100 following Suntech's NYSE listing and subsequent industry investment

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Space Energy Development AllianceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Suntech Power Holdings Co joined the Space Energy Development Alliance launched at the SNEC PV+ conference in Shanghai alongside GCL Technology Holdings Ltd, Trina Solar Co, and over a dozen other founding members. The alliance aims to develop space-based solar energy as manufacturers seek new markets after years of domestic overcapacity and depressed profit margins. China plans low-Earth-orbit technology verification tests by 2030 and a commercial gigawatt-scale space solar power station by 2050.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Canadian Solar: Canadian Solar is a global crystalline silicon module manufacturer with project development and energy storage arms - directly comparable to Suntech in module hardware, with added downstream and geographic diversification Suntech lacks.
• JinkoSolar: JinkoSolar is consistently one of the largest global crystalline silicon PV module suppliers, serving the same utility-scale, commercial, and rooftop channels as Suntech with comparable TOPCon/HJT product focus.
• Trina Solar: Trina is a top-tier Chinese crystalline silicon module and cell manufacturer with global utility, commercial, and residential reach - directly comparable to Suntech's portfolio and target segments. Trina is a co-founding partner of the Space Energy Development Alliance alongside Suntech.
• LONGi Green Energy Technology: LONGi is a vertically integrated Chinese leader in monocrystalline silicon wafers, cells, and modules - the same crystalline silicon stack that Suntech's PERC heritage targeted. It competes head-to-head with Suntech across all PV value chain steps.
• Risen Energy: Risen Energy is a Chinese Tier-1 crystalline silicon PV module maker active in the same utility-scale, commercial, and rooftop segments Suntech addresses, with overlapping exposure to TOPCon/HJT transitions.
• GCL Technology Holdings: GCL is a major Chinese polysilicon and wafer supplier that has expanded into cells and modules - directly overlapping with Suntech's midstream/downstream scope. GCL is also a Space Energy Development Alliance co-founder alongside Suntech.
• Tongwei Solar (Tongwei Co., Ltd.): Tongwei is a Chinese polysilicon and cell leader expanding aggressively into modules - directly comparable to Suntech in the cell/module layer and exerting significant cost pressure that shapes Suntech's competitive landscape.
• Hanwha Qcells: Qcells is a major crystalline silicon module and cell maker serving utility, commercial, and residential markets with operations in Korea, Malaysia, and the US - direct comparable to Suntech in product/markets with broader geographic footprint.
• JA Solar Technology: JA Solar is a leading Chinese manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon cells and modules covering the same residential through utility-scale segments as Suntech, with parallel exposure to global overcapacity.

Broad incumbents

• First Solar: First Solar is the leading thin-film CdTe module manufacturer; while its technology stack differs from Suntech's crystalline silicon heritage, it operates in the same utility-scale PV module market and competes for the same downstream buyer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Suntech_Connect
• Facebookfacebook.com/suntechpower
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suntech_2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Suntech Power