Suntech Power
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.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersWuxi, China
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Suntech Power firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Suntech Power industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Suntech Power is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wuxi
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Markets served
Suntech Power business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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.
Suntech Power product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Suntech Power
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Suntech Power technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Suntech Power partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Space Energy Development AllianceflagshipSuntech 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
Suntech Power competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Suntech Power social profiles
Digital presenceSuntech Power financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Suntech Power leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Suntech Power funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Suntech Power M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Suntech Power
What does Suntech Power do?
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.
Is Suntech Power a public or private company?
Suntech Power is a public company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Suntech Power founded?
Suntech Power was founded in 2001. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Suntech Power based?
Suntech Power is headquartered in Wuxi, China, in the Asia region.
How does Suntech Power make money?
One revenue line is on record: solar Panel Manufacturing and Sales.
Who are Suntech Power's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Canadian Solar, JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, LONGi Green Energy Technology, Risen Energy, GCL Technology Holdings, Tongwei Solar (Tongwei Co., Ltd.), Hanwha Qcells and JA Solar Technology. First Solar is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Suntech Power have an API?
No public API is recorded for Suntech Power.
What industry is Suntech Power in?
Suntech Power's product category is Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAD, Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film), with a secondary code of EUAMAHAA, Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 3600.