SAN FRANCISCO and WUXI, China, June 10 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, today announced that its Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Stuart Wenham, received the William R. Cherry award at the 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference ("PVSC") being held in Philadelphia, PA June 7-12, 2009. The William R. Cherry award recognizes engineers and scientists who have significantly advanced the technology of photovoltaic energy conversion.
Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO said, "The distinguished William R. Cherry award honors Dr. Wenham's important contributions to PV industry knowledge and progress through a celebrated career spanning three decades. His breakthrough achievements have advanced our industry standards and are highly regarded by experts around the world. On behalf of Suntech, we congratulate him on this prestigious honor and his outstanding accomplishments in the field of solar PV."
"My interest and research in photovoltaic technology has always been based on enabling widespread global adoption of solar energy as a clean, durable and affordable solution," said Dr. Stuart Wenham. "I am honored to accept this award and to be recognized among the inspiring scientists and supporters who are bringing solar PV to the forefront of global energy and environmental action."
Dr. Wenham has helped lead the development effort at the University of New South Wales' ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence on solar technology, which has set world records for solar conversion efficiencies. Dr. Wenham has also played a leading role in the development of Suntech's new Pluto technology, which routinely produces PV cells with conversion efficiencies of approximately 19% on mono-crystalline cells and 17% on multi-crystalline cells. Suntech anticipates ongoing enhancement of the Pluto technology and anticipates achieving 20% conversion efficiency on monocrystalline PV cells and 18% on polycrystalline PV cells within the next 2 years.
Dr. Wenham continued, "Of all the technologies I have been involved with developing and commercialising over the last 30 years, the Pluto technology is the one that really excites me. This is not just because of the high performance and low cost already being achieved by Suntech, but also because of Pluto's future potential for further performance increases, its excellent low light performance, and minimal light induced degradation. We look forward to implementing further iterations of Pluto within the next two years to achieve even higher conversion efficiencies, which is integral to Suntech's drive to reach grid parity."
The prestigious Cherry award is named in honor of William R. Cherry, one of the founders of the photovoltaic community. The award, which is given to one person annually or bi-annually, recognizes outstanding engineers and scientists who have made significant contributions to the science and technology of PV energy conversion, with dissemination by substantial publications and presentations. World-recognized PV scientist Professor Martin Green from the University of New South Wales is a previous recipient of the award. For more information about the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference and Cherry award, please visit http://www.34pvsc.org/index.php?page=cherry_award .
About Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) is the world's leading solar energy company as measured by production output of crystalline silicon solar modules. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, and markets premium quality, high-output, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech's patent-pending Pluto technology for crystalline silicon solar cells improves power output by up to 12% compared to conventional production methods. Suntech also offers one of the broadest ranges of building-integrated solar products under the MSK Solar Design Line(TM).
Suntech designs and delivers commercial and utility scale solar power systems through its wholly owned subsidiaries Suntech Energy Solutions and Suntech Energy Engineering and will own and operate projects greater than 10 megawatts in the United States through Gemini Solar Development Company, a joint venture with Renewable Ventures, a Fotowatio company. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland and San Francisco and sales offices worldwide, Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we live in and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enable sustainable development. For more information, please visit http://www.suntech-power.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements, and includes the ability of Suntech to improve Pluto conversion efficiency to 20% on mono-crystalline PV cells and 18% on multi-crystalline PV cells. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Suntech's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Suntech does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.
For more information, please contact:
In China:
Rory Macpherson
Investor Relations Director
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.
Tel: +86-21-6288-5574
Email: rory@suntech-power.com
In the United States:
Sanjay M. Hurry
Vice President
The Piacente Group, Inc. (Investor Relations Counsel, Suntech)
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: suntech@tpg-ir.com
