Global solar firms based on market capitalization 2024

As of May 2024, First Solar was the leading solar energy company worldwide, based on market capitalization. The company was valued at 20.25 billion U.S. dollars on May 7, 2024. Longi Green Energy Technology followed closely with a market capitalization of 19.46 billion U.S. dollars. The Chinese cell and module manufacturer has presented a steep growing trend in the last few years. In 2022, Longi’s revenue reached almost 19 billion U.S. dollars. 

First solar: leader in thin-film solar technology 

First Solar is a United States-based company dedicated to the production of low-cost, thin-film solar panels. The company is, in fact, the leading manufacturer of this type of solar modules worldwide, accounting for almost half of the global market. Thin-film solar panels are lighter and less expensive than monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon panels, but they are also less efficient. In 2023, First Solar’s net sales amounted to 3.3 billion U.S. dollars, up from 2.6 billion U.S. dollars a year earlier.  

Global cell and module production 

Some of the solar companies with the highest module production include Longi Green Energy Technology, Trina Solar, JA Solar Technology, and JinkoSolar. These four companies are based in China, and each recorded a solar module production of more than 40 gigawatts in 2022. When it comes to solar cell manufacturing, Tongwei Solar, also based in China, produced almost 50 gigawatts in 2022, ranking as the largest solar cell-producing company worldwide.