Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar Inc. is one of the world’s largest solar companies. Founded in 2001 in Ontario, Canada, the vertically integrated company develops and produces the industry’s largest product portfolio, from ingots, wafers, cells and solar modules all the way to custom-made solar systems. Product quality is the global solar company’s highest priority. Continuous research and development empower high-efficiency cells and the environmentally friendly recycling of the modules.
Business strategy
In terms of production capacity, Canadian Solar is one of today’s largest solar module manufacturers. Thanks to its global presence, the company is able to connect western know-how, such as state-of-the-art technology and management expertise, with eastern strengths, such as low production costs and short delivery periods. Photovoltaic systems are offered in the global market at an excellent value for money, because the vertical integration business model builds on an optimized value chain, ranging from ingots to wafers all the way to cells and modules. The direct purchase of materials and the company’s own production sites allow for a quick response to demand, improved production efficiency and efficient cash management. Canadian Solar operates seven production plants in China, with a total of 173.000m² of production space and 820 MW of module power. The company plans to open a 200MW production plant in the Canadian province of Ontario in 2010. Since November 2006, Canadian Solar is listed at NASDAQ (CSIQ). The Canadian company’s total 2009 turnover was 663.8 mn US$. In 2009, the total installation power of solar modules was 325.5 MW, which represents a 94 percent growth from 2008. Canadian Solar has developed into one of the solar industry’s most important companies.
Mission
To Canadian Solar, sustainability is not mere lip service. That’s why the company strives to produce „green“ solar energy harvested and used under sustainable production conditions. The company is also highly committed to provide uncompromising quality to its global customers - at the best possible economic, environmental and social conditions in production and recycling.
Product portfolio
With outputs ranging from 0.03W to 300W, Canadian Solar is the company with the solar industry’s largest portfolio of PV products. The cornerstones of Canadian Solar’s product strategy are: first-class quality, reliability and innovative products and solutions that are tailored to each individual customer’s needs. The product portfolio comprises standard modules, all-black modules, BIPV products, e-modules and specialized products which comply with certifications standards IEC, TÜV, UL, CEC and CE. The company also builds complete systems and sells OEM products. Solar modules by Canadian Solar are deployed in various types of open-land systems, large arrays and rooftop systems in different climatic zones. Solar systems turn solar energy directly into clean and cheap electricity. Such systems can be operated both off-grid (not connected to the public power grid) and on-grid, providing an additional source to feed electricity into a public power grid. These systems provide an output between 25 kW to 15 MW.
Canadian Solar obtains a competitive edge by technological progress. The company permanently improves the efficiency of its solar cells’ electrical conversion rate. Just recently, the successful testing of the new enhanced-selective-emitter (ESE) technology has set a new milestone in solar cell engineering, with an efficiency of 18.5 percent for monocrystalline and 17 percent for polycrystalline cells. In January 2010, five modules from the company’s CS series have achieved top rankings in the PV USA (PTC) rating. The PTC rating is currently being established as a generally accepted standard. It rates the performance of solar modules under realistic conditions.
Business strategy
In terms of production capacity, Canadian Solar is one of today’s largest solar module manufacturers. Thanks to its global presence, the company is able to connect western know-how, such as state-of-the-art technology and management expertise, with eastern strengths, such as low production costs and short delivery periods. Photovoltaic systems are offered in the global market at an excellent value for money, because the vertical integration business model builds on an optimized value chain, ranging from ingots to wafers all the way to cells and modules. The direct purchase of materials and the company’s own production sites allow for a quick response to demand, improved production efficiency and efficient cash management. Canadian Solar operates seven production plants in China, with a total of 173.000m² of production space and 820 MW of module power. The company plans to open a 200MW production plant in the Canadian province of Ontario in 2010. Since November 2006, Canadian Solar is listed at NASDAQ (CSIQ). The Canadian company’s total 2009 turnover was 663.8 mn US$. In 2009, the total installation power of solar modules was 325.5 MW, which represents a 94 percent growth from 2008. Canadian Solar has developed into one of the solar industry’s most important companies.
Mission
To Canadian Solar, sustainability is not mere lip service. That’s why the company strives to produce „green“ solar energy harvested and used under sustainable production conditions. The company is also highly committed to provide uncompromising quality to its global customers - at the best possible economic, environmental and social conditions in production and recycling.
Product portfolio
With outputs ranging from 0.03W to 300W, Canadian Solar is the company with the solar industry’s largest portfolio of PV products. The cornerstones of Canadian Solar’s product strategy are: first-class quality, reliability and innovative products and solutions that are tailored to each individual customer’s needs. The product portfolio comprises standard modules, all-black modules, BIPV products, e-modules and specialized products which comply with certifications standards IEC, TÜV, UL, CEC and CE. The company also builds complete systems and sells OEM products. Solar modules by Canadian Solar are deployed in various types of open-land systems, large arrays and rooftop systems in different climatic zones. Solar systems turn solar energy directly into clean and cheap electricity. Such systems can be operated both off-grid (not connected to the public power grid) and on-grid, providing an additional source to feed electricity into a public power grid. These systems provide an output between 25 kW to 15 MW.
Canadian Solar obtains a competitive edge by technological progress. The company permanently improves the efficiency of its solar cells’ electrical conversion rate. Just recently, the successful testing of the new enhanced-selective-emitter (ESE) technology has set a new milestone in solar cell engineering, with an efficiency of 18.5 percent for monocrystalline and 17 percent for polycrystalline cells. In January 2010, five modules from the company’s CS series have achieved top rankings in the PV USA (PTC) rating. The PTC rating is currently being established as a generally accepted standard. It rates the performance of solar modules under realistic conditions.
- Standard modules The standard modules operate on 5‘‘and 6‘‘ mono- or polycrystalline solar cells. Their properties make them suitable for a broad range of applications, from rooftop systems all the way to open-land solar farms.
- BIPV modules These modules consist of solar cells laminated between two hardened, low-ferrous glass panels. They are deployed on rooftops, in roof lights or facades. This way, the production of electricity by construction materials now becomes a reality.
- ClearPower modules The ClearPower modules provide yet another robust standard product, with a hardened glass front and a transparent backside in an anodized aluminum frame. These modules are deployed in on-grid and off-grid solutions – as roof lights, in facades or on rooftops.
- All-black modules These are universal and resistant modules suitable for deployment both in off-grid and on-grid solutions. They consist of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon cells laminated with black foil on the backside in a black aluminum frame. This allows for solutions with an appealing appearance.
- e-modules These ecologic modules have joined the product portfolio in 2008, after permanent development. They are based on crystalline silicon technology. Their outstanding feature is their extremely green production process, while offering excellent value for money.
- Specialized products Cells and modules by Canadian Solar are featured in a large portfolio of solar products. The range extends from solar-operated lamps for use in streetlights or traffic lights, garden lights or cemetery lights, to mobile chargers, car battery chargers, solar home systems that power AC household appliances such as TV sets, fans or lamps, all the way to solar-powered GPS systems for overland traffic and seafaring.
