SolarWorld California debuts Sunkits at Electric West Expo and Conference
Camarillo, February 19, 2007 - SolarWorld California will present their solar electric Sunkits® at Electric West, February 21 to 23 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Sunkits were developed in response to the demand for customizable solar energy solutions for the residential market.
"Unique to the industry, the Sunkits provide the flexibility that has been lacking in the residential market," says Raju Yenamandra, SolarWorld Sales Manager for North America. "Homeowners will now have the freedom and power to choose the optimal size of a solar electric system to fill their energy needs." SolarWorld California partners with the wholesaler Rexel to supply electrical contractors in California with the customized solar electric systems. For contractors new to the solar business, SolarWorld will be offering training classes.
SolarWorld California will be a major exhibitor in booth 601. Visitors will learn first-hand about Sunkits and the value-added advantage the company brings to the market: From raw silicon to complete systems, coupled with the company's technical expertise and innovation, the SolarWorld Group with its production facilities in the US encompasses the entire solar value chain. In Long Beach, company representatives will also be on hand to discuss the implementation and benefits of the $+3.2 billion California Solar Initiative, an ambitious incentive program with the goal of ensuring that 3,000 megawatts of solar is installed in California by 2017. As the leading California-based solar manufacturer, SolarWorld is uniquely positioned to supply California with the products, services and systems.
SolarWorld Group recently surpassed its own 2006 forecast with group sales of 676 million USD and profits of 170 million USD. In fiscal year 2006 they profitably expanded and internationalized their group-wide business volume both through organic growth along the entire solar value chain and also through the acquisition of the Shell solar activities. In comparison with the previous year group sales rose by 45 percent which was more than forecast. Without taking into consideration one-off effects like the lucrative Shell solar acquisition the group generated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of 155 million USD.
Pioneer in worldwide climate protection ranking
SolarWorld AG has been selected by the British financial newspaper CNBC European Business to be among the worldwide pioneering companies in climate protection. The magazine has drawn up a ranking list of 50 worldwide pioneering companies who have made climate protection part and parcel of their profitable business model. In this list SolarWorld AG is nominated as a pioneer in the development and production of carbon-free energies.
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