Wildflecken Solar Power Plant on Former Military Grounds is Connected to the Grid

WILDFLECKEN, Germany, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH is ensuring sustainable development of conversion real estate with the official commissioning of the Wildflecken solar power plant on 24 June 2011. "This brings the grounds' military history - the army was present here until 1998 - to a close. The site is now designated for sustainable and innovative use," said Alfred Schrenk, mayor of Wildflecken. BELECTRIC can provide 158 four-person households per year with solar energy from the first ground-mounted solar power plant fitted with Solar Frontier CIS (copper, indium, selenium) thin-film modules. This corresponds to savings of 413 tons of CO2 per year.

One particular achievement was the integration into the delicate landscape of the Hohen Rhon region. From the very start, this was an important aspect in the planning and implementation of the 551kW power plant. Located in the heart of the Rhon Nature Reserve, the plant is excellently integrated into the terrain and virtually invisible. The project manager, Gunther Blank, emphasized that: "The solar power plant is an outstanding example for the compatibility of sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supply as well as the preservation of the traditional landscape of a region."

To meet these requirements, BELECTRIC chose thin-film technology from Solar Frontier. The most convincing aspects of the 4,240 photovoltaic modules manufactured in Solar Frontier's new 900 MW plant are their economic viability and high efficiency. Wolfgang Lange, CEO of Solar Frontier Europe, said: "The plant not only shows how environmentally friendly solar energy can supply households with electricity, but also demonstrates the power and efficiency of Solar Frontier CIS modules. At the same time we're proving, in co-operation with BELECTRIC, that conversion real estate is outstandingly suited to energy production - and to the advantage of all those involved. The uniformly black appearance of the modules' surface integrates very well into the existing landscape. This is what the future of energy supply looks like." For more information please visit www.belectric.com.

About BELECTRIC: BELECTRIC is the global market leader for the development and implementation of free-field power plants and photovoltaic rooftop installations (EPC). At BELECTRIC, engineers and project developers conduct interdisciplinary research in all areas of solar technology and develop innovative technology that forms the basis for the environmentally friendly energy supply of the future. The company offers photovoltaic systems from a single source. The plants are realised - from planning and construction through to operation - without sub-contractors. Alongside solar power generation, the subsidiary BELECTRIC Drive concentrates on the combination of photovoltaics and e-mobility. More information at www.belectric.com.

About Solar Frontier K.K.:

Solar Frontier, a 100% subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., established the world's first gigawatt-scale CIS module factory in 2011 with a mission to create 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 (in addition to gallium and sulfur), has the best overall potential to set the world's most enduring standard for solar energy. This is based on our legacy of work in solar technology since the 1970s, the priority focus our laboratories have given to CIS since 1993, and our success in large scale CIS commercialization since 2007. The critical factors that combine to make CIS the overall economical and ecological leader include high efficiency modules and production processes as well as superior reliability, stability, sustainability, non-toxicity, and lower overall energy consumption in manufacturing to yield a faster energy payback time. These factors at gigawatt scale enable Solar Frontier to meet worldwide demand for the new standard in affordable solar panel performance. Visit www.solar-frontier.com for more information.

About 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.

Website: http://www.belectric.com

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SOURCE BELECTRIC Technology GmbH