This includes its own record achieved only last month. The "new world record conversion efficiency" (aperture area only) for the solar PV modules was measured at 16.53% by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.

Suntech's record breaking solar PV module is powered by Pluto solar PV cells  In August, Suntech surpassed the previous record of 15.5% set by Sandia National Labs 15 years ago. The latest record is well above previous records and the company says this is a reaffirmation that Suntech’s Pluto powered multi-crystalline solar PV modules has the highest conversion efficiency in the world.

Dr. Martin Green, Research Director of the ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and member of the Progress in Photovoltaics Committee says: "The 16.53% conversion efficiency Suntech module has a clear margin over other multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic technologies. It has set the new benchmark for the highest performance multi-crystalline module."