Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest producer of solar panels, has delivered more than one gigawatt of solar panels to customers throughout North and South America. The milestone was passed in July 2012, distinguishing Suntech as one of the first global solar companies with a one gigawatt track record in the region.
"This is a great milestone for our team and, most of all, a tribute to our customers – their success is our success. Although it's a highly-competitive period for solar manufacturers, there's never been a better time to be a solar customer and that's what matters most to our industry's longevity," said John Lefebvre, President of Suntech America. "Utilities from Arizona to Chile are recognizing solar's unique value proposition and ability to deliver low-risk, long-term price stability in an energy era defined by fossil fuel price instability. Solar offers a brilliant value proposition today that will only improve with time."
Suntech America was founded in 2007 in San Francisco, California, and has grown steadily since. In 2010, Suntech opened a 30MW solar module production facility in Goodyear, Arizona, which has since expanded to 50MW and now runs around-the-clock. Suntech employs about 180 people throughout the Americas and is continuing to hire and grow to meet new market demands.
Globally, roughly 7GW of Suntech solar panels have been shipped to more than 1,000 customers in more than 80 countries. Altogether, deployed Suntech solar panels generate an estimated nine terawatt hours of clean electricity per year, greater than the power consumption of Costa Rica or Paraguay, according to data from the CIA World Factbook.
