Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) (“Trina Solar” or the “Company”), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products, announced that the Company’s founder and CEO, Mr. Jifan Gao, has received the Solar Industry Award 2012. Mr. Gao has been selected by a panel of PV industry experts in recognition of his excellence in leadership and technological innovation.
“On behalf of our colleagues around the globe, I am honored and pleased to receive the Solar Industry Award”, Jifan Gao remarked. “Since its foundation, Trina Solar’s mission is to make the world a better place by providing affordable and reliable solar energy. This journey has taken us quite far already. We are committed to the ongoing advancement of the efficiency and quality of our products, as well as to aiding our customers in their efforts to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.”
With Trina Solar’s leading position, Jifan Gao has been contributing to the global renewable industry through international industry forums and associations. In 2012 Mr. Gao was invited to be one of the mentors of the World Economic Forum annual meeting. His suggestions have received broad attention from global leaders.
Jifan Gao established Trina Solar in 1997. Under his leadership Trina Solar has developed to a leading global solar company over the past 15 years. Trina Solar ranked first worldwide according to the 2011 global Sustainable Growth Index released by PRTM. In the Solar Scorecard 2012 ranking, published by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Trina Solar was ranked No.1 among all global PV manufacturers.
Leading the PV industry in terms of innovation, Trina Solar holds close to 350 patents. “We remain heavily committed to research and technological innovation which is reflected by our world class R&D facilities and program. Our State Key Lab and test center form an essential part of the Trina Solar campus and our vertically integrated business model”, Mr. Gao said.
Sponsored by UK-based Angel Business Communications, the Solar Industry Awards recognize outstanding performance in 17 categories, only one of which honors an individual rather than a company. This individual category, now awarded to Jifan Gao, is called “Solar Award for Excellence”. Previous winners include Dr. Martin Green (professor at University of New South Wales) and Ken Zweibel (Director of The George Washington University Solar Institute). “Each year the panel chooses an individual that we feel has driven the industry forward in a way that deserves notice and merit”, said David Ridsdale, Editor in Chief of Solar International, an Angel publication. “While we fully understand that any innovative technical process takes an army of people and organization to come to fruition, some individuals stand out by their individual personality, ambassador qualities or their driving energy in an organization leading to world class outputs.”
