Metro Atlanta-based solar cell manufacturer Suniva Inc. was named "Renewable Energy Exporter of the Year" by the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Suniva CEO John Baumstark received the award March 11 before introducing President Obama to an estimated 1,000 attendees at the bank's annual conference.

Suniva's technology was created at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The company operates a factory in Norcross, where it employs 150 workers making solar cells Suniva claims capture more solar energy than competing products. More than 90 percent of Suniva's cells were exported to Europe and Asia last year.

The company plans to hire 500 more workers over the next five years at a $250 million plant that should come on line in 2011 in Saginaw, Mich.

The export honor came less than a week after Suniva was named No. 2 venture-backed clean technology company by the Wall Street Journal.

Suniva also took home the "Green Transaction of the Year" award at the Ex-Im Bank conference.

Visit www.suniva.com.

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