LONGi founder Zhenguo Li receives Lifetime Achievement Award at S&P Global Energy Awards

LONGi has announced that its Founder, President of the Central R&D Institute and Chief Technology Officer, Zhenguo Li, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards. The award acknowledges the thirty-year contribution of Li to the solar industry, specifically regarding his work on monocrystalline silicon technology, cost reduction and the general renewable energy landscape.

Scientific background and focus on mono silicon establish technical foundation for modern solar manufacturing

Zhenguo Li graduated from Lanzhou University with a major in semiconductor materials in 1990 and founded LONGi in 2000. Since entering the solar industry in 1995, he has focused on the transverse magnetic field related to monocrystalline silicon. His research and product development, which received support from the National Innovation Fund for Science and Technology, helped drive the photovoltaic industry toward higher efficiency and scalability. This focus on monocrystalline silicon established a technical foundation that continues to be relevant for modern solar manufacturing.

Strategic leadership drives expansion into green hydrogen and integrated storage solutions

Under the leadership of Li, LONGi has developed from a startup into a global technology company. The organization has achieved technical progress in wafer technology and module efficiency. The business portfolio has subsequently expanded to include green hydrogen and integrated “solar-plus-storage” applications to support broader renewable energy adoption.

Award recognizes collective effort of R&D teams and global partners in driving energy transition

In his acceptance remarks, Li stated that the award reflects the collective effort of the colleagues, partners and clients who have supported LONGi for nearly 30 years. He highlighted the role of the R&D teams in converting innovation into affordable clean energy solutions and acknowledged the trust of global partners in expanding access to renewable power. Li emphasized that the company depends on its workforce and that the progress achieved is a result of this collaboration.

Continuous cost reductions enable new era of renewable integration and deep decarbonization

Li noted that the reduction of solar energy costs has improved conversion efficiency and facilitated a new era of renewable integration. These efforts are now being extended to green hydrogen, green methanol and green ammonia to support deep decarbonization. As the energy sector advances toward net-zero goals, LONGi maintains its commitment to scientific development and long-term collaboration within the industry.

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