Canadian Solar, Inc. (CSIQ)
News and Research on Canadian Solar, Inc. (CSIQ)
Business Description
Canadian Solar, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture and sale of solar cell and module products that convert sunlight into electricity for a variety of uses. The company’s products include a range of standard solar modules built to general specifications for use in a range of residential, commercial and industrial solar power generation systems.
The company also designs and produces specialty solar modules and products. Specialty solar modules and products consist of customized modules that its customers incorporate into their own products, such as solar-powered bus stop lighting, and complete specialty products, such as solar-powered car battery chargers. It also implements solar power development projects, primarily in conjunction with government organizations to provide solar power generation in rural areas of China.
Subsidiaries
The company’s subsidiaries include CSI Solartronics; CSI Solar Manufacture Inc.; CSI Solar Technologies Inc.; CSI Central Solar Power Co., Ltd.; CSI Cells Co., Ltd.; and Changshu CSI Advanced Solar Inc.
Products
Standard Solar Modules
The company’s standard solar modules are interconnected solar cells encased in a weatherproof frame. It produces various standard solar modules, ranging from 0.2 W to 300 W in power and using multi-crystalline and mono-crystalline solar cells. These products are built to general specifications for a range of residential, commercial and industrial solar power generation systems. Its standard solar modules are designed to be durable under harsh weather conditions and easy to transport and install.
Specialty Solar Modules and Products
The company collaborates with its customers to design and manufacture specialty solar modules and products based on its customers’ specifications and requirements. Its specialty solar modules and products consist of customized solar modules; and complete specialty products.
The company’s customized solar modules are solar modules that it designs and manufactures for customers who incorporate its customized solar modules as a component of their own products. It designs and manufactures complete specialty products, which combine its solar modules with various electronic components that it purchases from third party suppliers.
The company’s specialty solar modules and products have been used primarily in the automotive sector as well as the LED lighting sector. It focuses on other industries, such as the telecommunications sectors that have off-grid applications that can be powered by solar power. In addition to specialty solar modules and products used in bus stop signs, its car battery chargers and LED lighting, the company has also produced security sensors, signaling systems and mobile phone chargers in the past.
Solar Cells
The company has a solar cell production line with an annual capacity of 25 MW. Its solar cells are made on mono-crystalline silicon wafers.
Solar Power Development Projects
The company also implements solar power development projects, primarily in conjunction with government organizations, to provide solar power generation in rural areas of China. As part of this project, it installed demonstration projects and conducted three solar power forums in Beijing, Xining and Suzhou.
Markets
The company sells its products to customers located in various markets worldwide, including Germany, Spain, Canada and China.
Suppliers
The company’s major suppliers include Luoyang Poly; LDK; Deutsche Solar; Green Energy Technology Inc.; Del Solar Co., Ltd.; Motech Industries Inc.; Neo Solar S.L.L.; Q-Cells AG; China Electric and Equipment Group; and Sharp Solar.
Customers
The company’s standard solar module customers include solar power distributors and system integrators, such as ProSolar Energ — Tetecnik GmbH; Bihler Maschinenfhbrik GmbH & Co.; and Schüco International KG. Its specialty solar modules and products customers include automotive customers, such as Audi and Carmanah Technologies.
Competition
The company competes with international companies such as BP Solar, Sharp Solar and SolarWorld; and companies located in China such as Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.
History
Canadian Solar, Inc. was founded in 2001.
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