International Energy Week in Singapore on October 31, 2011, was the platform for a ceremony to appoint the first Chief Chairman of the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APIVA). Dr. Zhengrong Shi, CEO and founder of the world’s largest producer of solar panels, Suntech Power Holdings, will hold the post for two years.
Since the inception of APIVA on January 16, 2009, it now consists of 670 PV enterprises, 23 industry associations and 15 research institutions. The aim of the association is to encourage technological and economic information exchange, strengthen its members' connection with governments and societies in Asia, accelerate the progress in upgrading and popularization of technology, promote industry economy, while providing services to members and protect their legal rights and interests.
Tom Wu, Secretary General of the Taiwan Photovoltaic Industry Association, said, “APVIA has a strong leader in Dr. Shi who can lead the Asian photovoltaic industry to achieve grid parity. We are excited to work together to help drive job growth and solar installations anywhere the sun shines.”
Dr. Shi founded Suntech in 2001 and inventor of 15 patents in PV technologies and has published or presented a number of articles and papers in PV-related scientific magazines and at conferences.
“With the Asian PV industry projected to account for approximately one-third of global demand by 2015, Asia is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in driving the growth of the PV industry worldwide,” said Dr. Shi. “Through APVIA, the PV ecosystem will collaborate to develop the best technologies, achieve economies of scale, and identify market opportunities to achieve grid parity both in Asia and the world.”
Suntech recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by being the first and only solar company to achieve 5GW of solar installations by customers and partners worldwide.
