Prince Albert II of Monaco to Visit SolarWorld Group
Bonn, February 17, 2008 - Prince Albert II of Monaco will visit SolarWorld AG on Thursday as part of his state visit to Germany. Accompanied by the Prime Minister of Saxony, Georg Milbradt, the Monegasque Head of State will view the modern manufacturing facilities of the SolarWorld Group in Freiberg at his explicit request. "We are looking forward to making Prince Albert of Monaco familiar with the shine of advanced solar power technology," elaborates Dipl.-Ing. Frank H. Asbeck, Chairman and CEO of SolarWorld AG.
Prince Albert and SolarWorld to Discuss Development Cooperation between Monaco and the SolarWorld Group
In addition to visiting the silicon wafer and solar cell production facilities the Prince will talk to the SolarWorld management about cooperation projects for the use of solar technology in developing countries. "Two billion people worldwide have no access to the power grid. Solar energy is often the only chance for these people to obtain electrical lighting, to refrigerate medicines or to operate water pumps. We hope to be able to promote new projects for the dissemination of solar technology in developing countries in cooperation with the Principality," continues the head of SolarWorld, Frank H. Asbeck.
As part of the "Solar2World" program, SolarWorld Group has been making solar modules available since 2007 for selected projects primarily in Africa. Thus, an orphanage in Malawi, a drinking water project in Kenya and a hospital in Congo are receiving solar power modules from SolarWorld AG.
Prince Albert II of Monaco created a foundation for climate, species and water protection in June 2006 after having pushed through the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in the previous year. Since he came into office in April 2005 CO2 emissions in the city state have been significantly reduced. The Principality is also pursuing ambitious targets in development aid whose expenditure the government wants to increase by 25 percent annually. In 20 developing countries, above all in Africa, Monaco is funding projects to improve education, health and environmental protection. Thus a project against malnutrition is financed in Senegal, twelve water pumps were built in Mali and children in need are supported in Morocco.
About the SolarWorld group
The SolarWorld group (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high-quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules all the way to turn-key solar systems, including recycling, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany. Production sites are to be found in Germany, the United States and South Korea. The group’s largest production facilities operate in Freiberg, Germany and Hillsboro in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sustainability is the basis of the group strategy. Under the name Solar2World, the group supports care projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in emerging economies and developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs more than 2,700 people. SolarWorld AG has been quoted on the stock exchange since 1999 and today is listed on, among others, the TecDAX, ÖkoDAX, Dow Jones STOXX 600 as well as in the sustainability indices DAXglobal Alternative Energy and NAI.
www.solarworld-usa.com
Media Contact:
Ben Santarris
Public affairs manager
SolarWorld
25300 N.W. Evergreen Road
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Mobile: 503 927 9858
Office: 503 693 5189
ben.santarris(at)solarworld-usa.com