Suntech Unveils High-Efficiency and Innovative Solar Module for Israel

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest producer of solar panels, unveiled the Suntech 300W Vd series, a new generation high-efficiency solar module, for Israel, available immediately. Powered by Suntech's SuperPoly processing technology, a superior silicon casting and wafering process that produces higher-quality multicrystalline wafers, the module achieves up to 15.5% conversion efficiency, well above the 13% to 14% efficiency of conventional polycrystalline solar modules.

The introduction of Suntech's 300W Vd series reaffirms Suntech's commitment to offer industry leading solar products for Israeli customers.

"The new module delivers 10% more power than conventional polycrystalline products leading to lower balance-of-system and installation costs per watt," said James Hu, Suntech's president for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. "Israel's excellent solar resources make solar power a viable and highly cost competitive energy solution that can help the country move towards energy independence."

Suntech's new 300W Vd is a 72-cell module comprised of 6-inch black square cells that delivers one of the highest power per weight ratios in the industry. The module features a +/- 5% power tolerance and exceptionally low oxygen content leading to strong resistance to light-induced degradation. In addition, the modules are built to withstand all weather conditions including 3.800 N/m2 (~270 km/h) wind load and 5.400 N/m2 (~55 kg/m2) snow loads, well above IEC standard requirements. The product is ideally suited to rooftop installations where weight, power, and aesthetics are key customer considerations.

The 6-inch square cells in the new product contain minimal oxygen content and achieve 18% conversion efficiency. Suntech's in-house R&D and wafer production team developed the technology based on a hybrid wafer manufacturing process that combines the high efficiency of monocrystalline wafers with the cost-effectiveness and reliability of polycrystalline wafers.

With lower energy consumption during ingot production, the STP 300-24/Vd solar modules are even more environmentally friendly and reduce the energy payback time by almost one-third compared to conventional monocrystalline modules. The new solar module also features an anti-reflective surface trapping the sunlight into the cells combined with a hydrophobic self-cleaning surface structure. 

Suntech's new 300W Vd series solar module is available immediately for Israeli customers.

About Suntech

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) produces industry-leading solar products for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility applications. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland, and the United States, and gigawatt-scale manufacturing worldwide, Suntech has delivered more than 15,000,000 photovoltaic panels to over a thousand customers in more than 80 countries. Suntech's pioneering R&D creates customer-centric innovations that are driving solar to grid parity against fossil fuels. Suntech's mission is to provide everyone with reliable access to nature's cleanest and most abundant energy source.

For more information about Suntech's people and products visit: http://www.suntech-power.com    

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements, and includes the availability of solar products, the ability to deliver 10% more power than conventional polysilicon products, and the product's ability to achieves up to 15.5% conversion efficiency. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Suntech's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Suntech does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

SOURCE Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.