Solar panel producer Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. has been included in MIT Technology Review’s 2012 TR50 for developing low cost ways of making better silicon solar cells.
Suntech has steadily increased the conversion efficiencies of its commercial solar cells from about 14% in 2001 to over 20% currently.
Two notable Suntech innovations that achieved commercial-scale production last were its Pluto solar cell processing technology and its SuperPoly silicon processing technology. Pluto based solar panels feature in the solar array atop Sydney Town Hall and the technology was developed in collaboration with the University of New South Wales.
‘Suntech shows why mastering manufacturing is crucial in getting energy technologies to scale,’ said Jason Pontin, Editor in Chief and Publisher of Technology Review. ‘It is driving down the cost of solar cells and improving their efficiency.’
Suntech founder and CEO Dr. Zhengrong Shi said the company was honored to be recognized by MIT Technology Review.
“Suntech will continue to invest heavily in advanced photovoltaic research, and, more importantly, in bringing that technology to the market. All of our efforts are focused on one thing: making solar electricity affordable for everyone, everywhere.”
TR50 members are nominated by Technology Review’s editors. Technology Review is an independent media company owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Other accolades for Suntech in the last few months include being named one of the top 50 most innovative companies by Fast Company ; EuPD’s ‘Top Brand PV’ seal and PV Tech recognising Suntech solar panels as the most innovative solar product of 2011.
Another recent Suntech related breakthrough with a very strong Australian connection came with the announcement of the world’s most efficient broadband nanoplasmonic solar cells; developed by the company in collaboration with researchers from Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology at the University’s Victoria-Suntech Advanced Solar Facility (VSASF).
