Yingli Europe and SolarAid Launch the World's Most Affordable Solar Light
Oct 02, 2016, 09:00 ET
BAODING, China, Oct. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) ("Yingli Solar" or "Yingli"), one of the world's leading solar panel manufacturers, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Yingli Green Energy Europe GmbH (Yingli Europe) has partnered with SolarAid, a leading international charity that combats poverty and climate change, to launch the world's most affordable quality solar light, the SM100.
The new solar light was designed and developed by Yingli Europe, with the support of a UK industrial design agency, to meet critical price and performance specifications of SolarAid. SolarAid’s objectives were to provide a tough, durable high-quality solar light for use in rural Africa which retails for $5 in Africa, in order to make electrical light more accessible to the 598 million people in Africa who lack access to electricity.
"When I first started at SolarAid 10 years ago the lights we sold in Africa were $25 each. Over the last 10 years prices have come down and now SolarAid is proud to be launching what we believe is the world's most affordable solar light on the market," said Nick Sireau, CEO of SolarAid. "Working with our social enterprise, SunnyMoney, in Africa we will be selling the SM100 to people in rural communities for just $5 each. We sincerely hope this step change in pricing will help us to eradicate the kerosene lamp for good."
The SM100 captures, within the design and features, SunnyMoney's collective insights after selling over 10 million solar lights across Africa in the past 10 years. During August 2016 nine thousand SM100s were distributed in Uganda, Malawi and Zambia through SolarAid's social enterprise, SunnyMoney, who sell lights via school networks and local enterprises. This first batch of lights will form a sales trial, allowing SolarAid to gather customer feedback to incorporate into further SM100 design and manufacturing iterations.
The solar-powered SM100 provides more than 5 hours of constant bright light. It can be used as a traditional desk light or hung on the wall. Due to the SM100's rectangular shape it can be also be used off the stand and additional slots in the casing can be used to attach a strap so that the lamp can be worn as a head torch for hands-free use. The SM100 will retail for £10 in the UK, providing SolarAid with the funds to distribute two more SM100 lights in Africa for every one that is bought in the UK.
Yingli has committed to support SolarAid in their important mission to eradicate the kerosene lamp. "The SM100 will provide safe light to millions more families who live currently on less than 1.25$ per day. Not only will the lamp save lives but also support children's' education at home in the dark evenings and saving families money by avoiding the purchase of air polluting kerosene," said Darren Thompson, Managing Director of Yingli Europe. "We are pleased to provide SolarAid with a durable high quality solar light at the lowest price point possible that will help to transform the quality of life for millions of people that live without electricity. At Yingli we stand behind our mission – Affordable Green Energy for All."
About Yingli Green Energy
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE), known as "Yingli Solar," is one of the world's leading solar module manufacturers. Yingli Green Energy's manufacturing covers the photovoltaic value chain from ingot casting and wafering through solar cell production and solar PV module assembly. Headquartered in Baoding, China, Yingli Green Energy has more than 30 regional subsidiaries and branch offices and has distributed more than 15 GW solar PV modules to customers worldwide. For more information, please visit www.yinglisolar.com and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo.
About SolarAid
SolarAid is a London-based international charity that believes in business-based solutions to poverty and climate change. SolarAid was founded in 2006 by the solar sector to explore and create clean, safe, affordable energy for all. In 2008 SolarAid created a social enterprise called SunnyMoney to run it's on the ground operations in Africa. SunnyMoney uses an innovative distribution model to sell solar lights in rural off-grid communities currently dependent on costly, toxic kerosene for lighting. By building a sustainable market for solar products SolarAid and SunnyMoney aim to catalyse emerging solar markets and eradicate the kerosene lamp from Africa. For more information, please visit www.solar-aid.org.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of 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," "target" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Yingli Green Energy's control, which may cause Yingli Green Energy's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Yingli Green Energy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Yingli Green Energy 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.
For further information, please contact:
In China:
Eric Pan
Investor Relations
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited
Tel: +86 312 8929787
E-mail: [email protected]
In the Americas:
Lily Arrieta
Marketing Communications Manager Americas
Yingli Green Energy Americas
Email: [email protected]
In Europe:
Carolin Stähler
Solar Light Project Manager
Yingli Green Energy Europe GmbH
Email: [email protected]
Oliver Sylvester-Bradley
Marketing Manager
SolarAid
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited