Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Suntech) is a solar energy company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets a variety of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules. It also provides PV system integration services in China. The Company's products are used in a variety of residential, commercial, industrial and public utility applications in various markets. Suntech sells its products in various key solar energy markets worldwide, including Spain, Germany, the United States, China, South Korea, Italy, the Middle East, Australia and Japan. As of December 31, 2008, the average conversion efficiency rates of the Company's monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon PV cells were 17.2% and 15.2%, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company commenced the production of PV cells utilizing the Pluto technology, a PV technology that allows conversion efficiency rates in the range of 18.0% to 19.0% on PV cells manufactured with monocrystalline silicon wafers.