Chinese Suntech Power has had quite a ride since its IPO last December. The stock went public at $15, tripled to over $45 and has since had quite a fall to the low 20s. Some people think this post-IPO correction may have been overdone - see this recent piece on 21st June - Once-Sizzling Suntech Power Sees Daylight .

If we were to use prejudicial stereotypes, investors are short termists and the Chinese like to take the long view. So what's the Chinese long view on solar that investors might want to know about?

As this piece from March earlier this year explains, the medium term view suggests an enormous solar capacity ramp is under way in China.

"Module capacity of 450 MW will rise to 1200 MW by 2008. The 200 MW of domestic solar cell making capacity will rise to 1200 MW exiting 2008 with the ramp of three large cell makers and as certain wafer suppliers forward integrate. Wafer capacity of 100 MW in 2005 will grow to circa 800 MW by 2008 thanks to the production ramp of domestic polysilicon supply as well as large poly supply contracts beginning in 2008."

And for the long term view, it goes on . . .

"Solar demand in China is expected to increase significantly over the next several years driven by the Chinese renewable energy program enacted in February. Although the government has not communicated the details, the law is expected to generate 500 MW of annual capacity by 2010 ($3.5B USD), 3 GW by 2020, and 60 GW by 2050."

NYSE-listed Suntech closed up on Friday at $26.60