Suntech solar panels reviews

Suntech Power is a tier 1 Chinese producer of solar panels with 15 year to 25 year product warranties. They have an Australian office in North Sydney.

Suntech is unique in that it is the only major solar panel manufacturer in the world that was founded by an Australian.

Solar Panel Production

Suntech Power was started by Shi Zhengrong in 2001 and it rapidly expanded to become the largest solar panel producer in the world in 2011 with 2.4 gigawatts of production capacity.

While previous massive financial problems held the company back for some years, as at mid-2023 Suntech's total cumulative shipped capacity was more than 40GW. 

Company History

Shi Zhengrong was born in 1963 in Yangzhong, 200km north-west of Shanghai. His parents were so poor they kept his twin brother and adopted him out. You might think his parents ended up kicking themselves for not keeping the one who became a billionaire, but apparently his brother made it big in the world of business also. But I have no information on whether or not his business also came crashing down around him.

Shi Zhengrong studied at Shanghai University and obtained a Masters degree in lasers. He then went on to study at the University of NSW and obtained a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. He obtained Australian citizenship, but after failing to obtain both investors and government support in Australia, he returned to China to found Suntech in 2001.

The company expanded rapidly and became a world leader in solar technology. In August 2009 Suntech broke the record for both polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar cell efficiency. In 2011 the firm became the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer.

But Suntech’s financial position started deteriorating in 2008 and by March 2013 they became a world leader in financial disasters by being the first mainland China company to default on their US bonds. At the time the bonds were worth $541 million US and the company declared bankruptcy soon after. Shi Zhengrong was forced out of his position as Chairman and CEO.

Suntech Was Scammed Out Of 560 Million Euros

The default wasn’t the first time Suntech had trouble with bonds. In July 2012 they suddenly realized 560 million Euros worth of German Government bonds they had held for two years were actually forgeries that were part of an Italian scam.

Not noticing they were being conned in the first place and then not realizing it for two years; or if you are of a suspicious turn of mind - keeping it hidden for that long, was an act of incredibly stupid negligence. So if your boss is ever down on you for a money losing mistake, you can console yourself with the fact that you probably haven’t saddled your company with 560 million Euros worth of counterfeit bonds from scammers.

Shi Zhengrong’s Fate

In 2007 Shi Zengrong was apparently the richest person in mainland China. But as the financial position of Suntech deteriorated, the value of his share of the company fell from $3 billion to $32 million - which isn’t even enough to buy 32 Sydney homes.

But he is still working to promote solar power and fighting to further develop clean energy to address climate change. His next goal is for the world to reach 100% renewables. He says life should be green, sustainable, and enjoyable. So good on him.

Shi Zengrong also kicked off another solar panel manufacturer, SunMan, which focuses on glassless, ultra-light, thin and flexible products.

It’s hard to keep a good former billionaire down. There should be more people like him. And genetically speaking, there is one more.

But back to Suntech..

Suntech Returns From The Dead

While Suntech went bankrupt, it never actually died. Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited acquired Suntech in 2014 and the company is now formally known as Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd.

Suntech Solar Panels

Suntech produces a range of solar panels for the Australian market, currently primarily the Ultra V Pro (up to 430W).

The Ultra V Pro range, based on half-cut N-Type TOPCon cells, offers conversion efficiences up to 22.5% and are backed by a 25 year product and performance warranty.

Ultra V Pro panels are certified as corrosion resistant, which makes them suitable for installation in coastal areas. 

You can see more Suntech module specs along with approximate pricing on SolarQuotes' solar panel comparison table.

Suntech Panels Obtained The Prestigious VDE Certification

VDE is a massive German association which, among other things, is a standards body that devised a rigorous testing process for solar panels simulating exposure to harsh conditions for decades. Suntech was the third manufacturer in the world to have panels pass their test and contract VDE certification.

Warranty Procedure For Orphaned Suntech Customers

If you have purchased Suntech panels from a solar installer who has since gone out of business, the responsibility for warranty claims shifts to Suntech. Their customer service line in Australia is 02 8188 2450 - affected customers should contact this line for warranty assistance. Suntech have advised that they are able to refer customers to installers who can diagnose issues with the panels and carry out any warranty replacement work. Labor costs involved with panel replacement are covered under warranty - $120 for the first panel, and $60 for each additional panel.

My Recommendation

Suntech makes reliable panels, so I would be fine with putting them on my roof. Despite their previous financial dramas, they seem to have come through and built up a relatively sound financial position. And because Suntech solar panels are reliable, hopefully you’ll never be in the position of needing to make a warranty claim.