BenQ Solar Showcases its Integrated Residential PV Solution in Europe

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HSINCHU, Taiwan, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- The world's leading solar solution brand, BenQ Solar, will participate in Intersolar Europe, the world's largest solar exhibition, to showcase the industry's first integrated AC Unison solution and mini-grid solution for the residential market. The product line aims to help users manage energy flexibly and save power costs. The two solar solutions are expected to be available for the European market in the fourth quarter this year to provide local customers with high-efficiency and economic solar solutions.

"The European PV market is seeing a gradual shift towards the residential sector. BenQ Solar is also staying close to the consumers by addressing their energy needs, offering user-friendly, high-efficiency, and cost-effective integrated module and mini-grid solutions to meet customer needs for PV self-consumption, system installation, monitoring capability, power storage, and hybrid energy solutions, all at once," said James Chen, AUO's Vice President of Solar Business Group. "BenQ Solar has made-in-Europe solar products, top-notch high-efficiency solar modules, and global reach to provide customers with responsive and complete services."

BenQ Solar will exhibit the AC Unison Solution, the world's first integrated high-efficiency module with micro-inverter and monitoring system. AC Unison Solution has acquired UL certification and has been installed at hundreds of sites across various states in the US. AC Unison has proven to be compatible with a wide range of grid conditions, climate variations, and residential internet service providers. This solution not only utilizes simple plug-and-play installation, its flexible structure is also easy for repair, resulting in lower cost in maintenance and installation. In addition, its low voltage design ensures that it is much safer to use compared to traditional systems. Users can monitor the power output in real-time through communication devices such as cellphones, tablets, and PCs. 

As government subsidies for solar power gradually decrease in many European countries, BenQ solar is offering users bearing high energy cost, or living in remote areas and off-shore islands mini-grid solutions. Residential users can store electricity from solar modules during daytime, and reduce costs of power generation from fossil fuels or other power sources. If solar power is not enough, the mini-grid solution can utilize other power sources to contribute to environmental efforts and cost savings.

BenQ Solar's own PM318B00 high-efficiency solar modules, with efficiency over 20%, will target the utility markets in Europe in 2013. By working with major European partners, BenQ Solar has built the world's largest solar array in Dusseldorf Airport, and has established the largest solar park in the UK. Its high-performing and reliable solar modules have been well recognized by European customers.

Through the "Global operation, local delivery" business strategy, BenQ Solar has successfully built many solar projects worldwide, and is able to ship products that are locally made in Europe, Taiwan, China and the US to its worldwide customers. Distribution channels and service networks are being expanded continuously and simultaneously in Europe, America and Asia to provide customers with prompt and complete support and solar solutions that are easy to install, highly efficient and reliable. 

BenQ Solar photos can be downloaded at the Company's website: http://benqsolar.com/?sn=1203&lang=en-US

Any use of photographs and videos must cite the source thereof is from AU Optronics Corporation.

About BenQ Solar

BenQ Solar is a division of AU Optronics Corp. AU Optronics manufactures and markets its PV products globally by using BenQ Solar as its solar product brand. BenQ Solar Business combined M.Setek, AUO crystal, and AUO SunPower to form a high-efficiency vertical solar value chain from polysilicon, ingot, wafer, solar cell, PV module and project business. BenQ Solar has successfully accomplished many large solar power plants projects in Europe, Asia and Africa. The company is capable of providing solar modules from Taiwan, China, Europe and the US and adopts "global operation, local delivery" model to provide worldwide customers with total solar solutions. Please visit BenQSolar.com.

About AU Optronics

AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) is one of the world's leading providers of display and solar total solutions. AUO offers a full range of panel sizes and comprehensive applications ranging from 1.2 inches to 71 inches. Based on its profound R&D and manufacturing experience, AUO continues to develop advanced display technologies of the next generation. AUO extended its market to the green energy industry in 2008. By building a vertically integrated high-efficiency solar value chain, AUO provides its customers with high-efficiency solar solutions. AUO now houses a staff of more than 45,000 employees, with global operations in Taiwan, Mainland China, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, Czech and Slovakia. Additionally, AUO is the first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to be successfully listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AUO has also been named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for two consecutive years from 2010 to 2011. AUO generated NT$379.7 billion (US$ 12.54 billion) in sales revenue in 2011. For more information, please visit AUO.com.

* 2011 year end revenue converted at an exchange rate of NTD30.27:USD1.

Safe Harbour Notice

AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), a global leader of TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above news. Except for statements in respect of historical matters, the statements contained in this Release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements were based on our management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the time regarding matters including, among other things, future revenues and costs, financial performance, technology changes, capacity, utilization rates, yields, process and geographical diversification, future expansion plans and business strategy. Such forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including risks related to the flat panel display industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance of and demand for our products, technological and development risks, competitive factors, and other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27th, 2012.

SOURCE AU Optronics Corporation