Gregory Ashley Joins Solar Frontier Americas as Vice President and COO

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Frontier Americas Inc., a 100% subsidiary of Solar Frontier K.K., which is a 100 % subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. headquartered in Tokyo, has appointed Gregory Ashley as vice president and chief operating officer of its operations across the Americas. Ashley oversees sales and marketing in North and South America and is responsible for commercializing Solar Frontier's breakthrough CIS thin-film solar PV technology in some of the most dynamic global markets for solar energy.  

"Greg brings nearly 30 years of experience in the energy sector and will be invaluable to Solar Frontier's emergence in the North American and South American markets," said Brooks Herring, executive officer of international business at Solar Frontier K.K.. "With his expertise in solar energy systems, smart grid development and energy efficiency, Greg was our top choice to help bring to market the most bankable PV technology yet available to customers across the continents."

Solar Frontier's proprietary CIS thin-film solar technology offers compelling economic benefits by delivering superior performance compared to other leading technologies, and delivering more energy for less. Solar Frontier also uses less natural resources and raw materials than competing crystalline-silicon processes, enabling faster energy payback as well as less carbon emissions per KW of production capacity. Finally, Solar Frontier does not use materials like cadmium or lead in its production process, thus minimizing its environmental impact and offering superior PV panel recyclability. Solar Frontier's key products in the U.S. market (SF-US-B series CIS solar modules) are UL certified and CEC listed.

"Solar Frontier's highly sustainable PV technology is extremely well positioned in the critical ratio of cost versus efficiency," said Ashley. "We will be able to meet demand competitively when our third plant comes online in 2011 at 900 MW. It will be the largest solar panel manufacturing facility in the world. My immediate focus is on building a top-notch operations team, which will be headquartered here in Santa Clara, Calif."  

Ashley joins Solar Frontier Americas from Canadian Solar, where he recently held the position of president, United States Division, and was responsible for U.S. sales and marketing and supporting the growth of emerging global markets.

Solar Frontier will be exhibiting at Intersolar North America 2010 in San Francisco's Moscone Center West Hall from July 13-15, booth number 9423.

About Solar Frontier K.K.

Solar Frontier K.K., a 100% subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., is committed to creating the most economical, ecological solar energy solutions in the world, on the world's largest scale. Solar Frontier's proprietary CIS technology, denoting key ingredients Copper, Indium, and Selenium, has the best overall potential to set the world's most enduring standard for solar energy. The critical factors that combine to make CIS the overall economical and ecological leader include high efficiency and low production costs as well as superior reliability, stability, sustainability, non-toxicity, and lower overall energy consumption in the manufacturing process to yield a faster energy payback time. In 2009 we announced plans for a 900MW factory in Miyazaki, Japan. Scheduled to commence operations in 2011, it will become the world's largest photovoltaic production facility, enabling Solar Frontier to meet worldwide demand for the new standard in affordable solar panel performance. Visit www.solar-frontier.com for more information.

Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.

Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has roots dating back more than 100 years in the downstream energy business.

SOURCE Solar Frontier Americas Inc.