Suniva is 'An American Success Story'

NORCROSS, USA: Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently heralded Suniva Inc., a US manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and modules, as “an American success story.”

The comments came in an entry on The White House Blog by Secretary Chu recounting his visit to the Georgia Institute of Technology, the genesis of Suniva’s industry-leading technology.

Suniva evolved from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s University Center of Excellence in Photovoltaics (UCEP) and the research of its founding director, Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, Suniva’s founder and CTO. Secretary Chu visited UCEP on May 7 and after touring the facility and meeting with Suniva executives, he commented in his blog post, “This center and this company are powerful examples of how clean energy technology can drive job creation in the U.S. and increase our competitiveness.”

Suniva has exemplified the economic growth ideals put forth by the Obama administration by exporting production while creating US jobs. Last year, Suniva exported more than 90 percent of its product to Asia and Europe. The company won the 2010 Renewable Energy Exporter of the Year from the Export-Import Bank of the Unites States and introduced President Obama before his major policy speech on exports and US job creation.

“The US needs to jump back into the clean energy race and play to win. That is the work we have started with investments like the Recovery Act and companies like Suniva,” continued Secretary Chu in his blog post.

“Suniva has created more than 150 clean energy jobs manufacturing high-efficiency silicon solar cells and modules, using technology developed at UCEP. Fifty of those jobs are the direct result of a clean energy tax credit that was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.”

“As the only US manufacturer of high-efficiency silicon solar cells and modules that uses US technology and hires U.S. workers, we are proud to be breaking new ground in the clean energy race,” said Suniva CEO John Baumstark. “Secretary Chu’s comments are a testament to the innovative work our team is doing in making high-efficiency solar cells and modules affordable.”