Top Public Photovoltaic Companies; Manufacturers plus Installers / Integraters and Suppliers

In the world of solar photovoltaic energy companies, there are basically three main types of companies. Here's the breakdown:

A) The solar PV manufacturers

B) The integrators / installers and solar project developers / managers

C) The suppliers to the industry

Let's call the first group the Sell Side, as they seek to sell their solar PV modules and systems to the world, and the 2nd group the Buy Side, as these are among the customers of the photovoltaic solar power manufacturers, and the third group the Supply Side.


Photovoltaic Industry Sell Side - PV Manufacturers


First Solar Inc FSLR

Thin film solar pioneer and global market leader


Q-CELLS QCE

Germany-based solar cell manufacturer is the world's largest solar energy producer.


SunPower Corp SPWRA

San Jose company manufactures and develops and installs solar modules and complete photovoltaic electricity systems.



Suntech Power Hldgs STP

China-based solar power firm designs, develops, manufactures and markets a variety of photovoltaic solar energy cells and modules.


Energy Conversion Devices ENER

Longtime solar energy research firm has developed the competitive Uni-Solar thin film solar power technology and is building a second manufacturing plant.


JA Solar Holdings JASO

China-based manufacturer of high performance photovoltaic solar energy cells.


Yingli Green Energy Holding YGE

Fast growing Chinese solar cell manufacturer may be affected by China's slowdown, but with the ADR shares at just 5.88 (down from 41.50), it's a great time to look into this one.


Evergreen Solar ESLR

USA photovoltaic manufacturer facing some [problems but has $285 mil in cash and a strong order backlog. Also, check out ESLR's lawsuit against Lehman and Barclay's, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.


Solarfun Power Holdings SOLF

Here we go again: Chinese photovoltaic company trades at a PE of just 7.75, with the shares down more than 80% from the high above $40 to today's close of $6.80.


China Sunergy Co (ADR) CSUN

Emerging Chinese solar energy company with rising revenues; based in Nanjibg but exports to the world.



Canadian Solar Inc CSIQ

Another fast-growing Chinese solar photovoltaics system manufacturer, including products for solar bus stop lighting and solar car battery chargers. With the stock at 11.71 (down from 51.80) and a PE of 9.8, definitely worth further research.



Trina Solar Limited (ADR) TSL

Yet one more China solar photovoltaic energy manufacturer, sells its solar modules worldwide, including in Europe. Hit hard by the oil price fall and the liquidity cruch in capital markets, the ADR shares are at 13.95, down from 68.26, and trade at the unheard of PE of 6.59.


ARISE Technologies Corp APV

Ontario-based emerging solar energy company focusing on thin film solar.


Ascent Solar Tech ASTI

ASTI is a development stage company seeking to commercialize flexible photovoltaic modules utilizing technology developed by ITN Energy Systems (ITN).




Photovoltaic Industry Buy Side - Solar Project Developers
(I need more publicly-listed buy-side solar energy companies to follow; any suggestions from readers?)


Akeena Solar Inc. AKNS

California-based Akeena markets, designs and installs systems for residential and commercial customers.




Photovoltaic Industry Supply Side - Suppliers to PV companies


LDK Solar Co Ltd LDK

LDK supplies solar wafers to Q-CELLS and other photovoltaic manufacturers under longterm contracts that are generally take-or-pay; hugely successful firm with rapidly rising revenues.


GT Solar International SOLR

SOLR is a provider of manufacturing equipment and turnkey manufacturing solutions to the photovoltaic solar power industry.


ReneSola Ltd (ADR) SOL

SOL is a China-based supplier of solar wafers to major photovoltaic industry companies such as SolarFun, JA Solar and Suntech Power.


5N Plus Inc VNP

A Quebec-based refiner and recycler of metals, 5N supplies thin-film solar energy pioneer First Solar (FSLR) with the cadmium telluride, the key to its patents.


Spire Corporation SPIR

SPIR offers turnkey solutions for the solar industry, including manufacturing equipment and full turnkey lines for cell and module production and testing.