Behind every billionaire there is a story!

Mr Sunshine: China’s solar billionaire Shi Zhengrong

Since founding Suntech Power - China’s largest photovoltaic manufacturer - in 2001, Shi has capitalised on a surge of environmentally driven demand in Germany, the US and elsewhere that has turned his company into a global powerhouse and made him, by some estimates, the richest man on the mainland.

But that is just the start, according to the Australian-educated scientist, who predicts solar power will rival oil and coal before the end of the next decade.

“We believe that in 10 years, Suntech will be an energy giant like BP or Shell today,” he says. “Since we were founded, we have grown by more than 100% every year, but we still can’t keep up with demand. We must grow faster.” In an interview with the Guardian at his headquarters in an industrial estate in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, Shi cuts a confident, amiable figure. He can afford to be. The world is moving in Suntech’s direction

 read the rest published by Guardian here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/audio/2008/jul/25/watts.solar?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews