Kolitzheim/Germany: BELECTRIC has installed Europe's largest roof-mounted CIS system on the roof of the main warehouse of the Reifen Müller KG in Hammelburg, Lower Franconia. BELECTRIC engineers fitted 6,168 SF 140 thin-film modules from leading manufacturer Solar Frontier and 50 inverters from SMA over an area covering 7,800m². Thanks to a in-house developed substructure and an innovative wiring harness assembled in advance in its main factory, the system was manufactured and connected to the grid in mid-November in a record time of just four weeks. Boasting a nominal power of 864 kWp, the system produces 834,160 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to supply 208 four-person households.

Carsten Köhler, CEO of BELECTRIC PV-Dachsysteme, highlighted the excellent cooperation of everyone involved in the project:"We are delighted that Mr. Klaus Müller, as the owner of an SME, had the courage to implement this major, large-scale project and to make such a climate-friendly investment for the future. This project once again demonstrates the tremendous potential that the roofs of commercial and industrial premises have for the generation of solar energy. We have installed Europe's largest CIS system, which will produce savings of 560 tonnes of CO2 a year, on what was previously an unused roof. We will be implementing more projects of a similar scale again next year."

About BELECTRIC®: BELECTRIC is the global market leader for the development and implementation of ground-mounted solar power plants and roof-mounted photovoltaic systems (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 power supply of the future. The photovoltaic systems are realized in-house – from planning and construction through to operation. Alongside solar power generation BELECTRIC Drive® concentrates on the combination of photovoltaics and e-mobility. Further information can be found at www.belectric.com.

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.

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.

Kolitzheim: In 2011, BELECTRIC is once again the global market leader in the development and construction (EPC) of ground-mounted solar power plants and roof-mounted photovoltaic systems. For the second year in a row, BELECTRIC has installed more photovoltaic power around the world than any other company in the industry. Across all continents, 62 solar power plants were constructed in addition to a multiplicity of large-scale roof-mounted photovoltaic systems, photovoltaic greenhouse systems and photovoltaic car park systems with a total output of 391 MW. This is the result of an analysis of the photovoltaics market conducted by Solarpraxis AG in collaboration with the iSuppli market research institute ("photovoltaik" magazine 12/2011). BELECTRIC pursues a sustainable and innovative strategy. The development of the company and its products focuses on the customers and their satisfaction in every stage of project planning and realization.

With 2,000 employees in 15 countries, BELECTRIC's leading position on the market is primarily due to full integration and in-house project planning. Nearly all system components (BOS), such as substructures and cable systems, are manufactured in house, enabling perfect adaptation of the system design and construction processes, which in turn results in reduced costs per generated kWh (LCOE) in the long run and high-quality results. The high degree of flexibility in all working procedures allows BELECTRIC to construct all ground-mounted solar power plants within the specified time frame.

Another aspect that ensures the company's success is its exceptionally strong financial position. With an equity ratio of 60% and a high credit limit, BELECTRIC is viewed as one of the most reliable partners by investors and banks responsible for project financing. At an index of 122, the independent rating from Creditreform is further proof of BELECTRIC's market leadership. “Thanks to its reliability and quality, BELECTRIC has enjoyed a cooperative partnership with all its investors, banks and land owners for many years.” emphasises Martin Zembsch, Chief Sales Officer of BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH, the success and strength of BELECTRIC.

A documented example of this strength is the 100 million euro project financing of Europe's largest thin-film ground-mounted solar power plant located in Alt Daber, Brandenburg. The plant boasts an output of almost 70 MW. Investor is CommerzReal from Düsseldorf, a company of the Commerzbank AG. The project financing was operated in cooperation with the Bavarian State Bank. The CFB 179 Fund, prize winner of the Scope Awards 2011, has owned 9 power plants from BELECTRIC with an output of almost 122 MW.

When it comes to modules, BELECTRIC relies on the expertise and years of experience of First Solar and Solar Frontier. Both companies are financially stable and produce modules on the basis of long-term planning.

In 2012, BELECTRIC will use its innovative force to anchor solar power more firmly across the globe. With entry into further international markets, the company is represented in all global growth regions. Bernhard Beck, Chief Executive Officer of BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH, also places the focus on the decisive role played by the German market: "We are confident that new technologies such as the integrated grid stability of the 2.0 MegaWattBlock and energy storage solutions will help to reduce the costs of the energy turnaround, make it more effective and render part of the grid extension obsolete. Germany and its companies must assume the role of trendsetters for the worldwide transformation of energy production." That's why BELECTRIC will continue to implement its projects on the German market in 2012 with a focus on efficiency.

About BELECTRIC®: BELECTRIC is the global market leader in the development and construction of ground-mounted solar 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 a basis for the environmentally friendly energy supply of the future. With more than 25 patents granted every year, BELECTRIC is continuously proving its innovative spirit. BELECTRIC handles all aspects of the realization process - from the planning stage, through construction, and to the operation of photovoltaic systems. This ensures highly efficient decades-long performance. Alongside solar power generation, BELECTRIC Drive® concentrates on the combination of photovoltaics and electric vehicle systems. More information at www.belectric.com.

Munich/Kolitzheim: The sun was shining brightly the day that Horst Seehofer, Minister-President of Bavaria, visited BELECTRIC in Kolitzheim. Together with District Administrator Harald Leitherer, Secretary of State Gerhard Eck and further members of parliament from the region, Horst Seehofer found out about specific advancements in research and development in photovoltaic technology and their significance for the energy turnaround.

The Minister-President of Bavaria sees BELECTRIC as an "exemplary enterprise in Bavaria" in this undertaking. "BELECTRIC will play a defining role in implementing the energy turnaround because the company is at home in the global markets," explained the Bavarian Minister-President to the press at the event. The participation of economically strong and experienced companies in particular will be an important part of implementing the actual turnaround.

In their discussions, Bavarian Minister-President Horst Seehofer and Martin Zembsch, Managing Director at BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH, focused on current developments. The Minister-President was very enthusiastic about innovations in the area of storage technologies and network stabilisation; both fields are seen as the key to successfully transforming how power is supplied in Germany. "With regard to doubling the proportion of renewable energy sources in Bavaria by 2020, it is important that companies like BELECTRIC play a significant role and assume responsibility," said Horst Seehofer, stressing the urgency of the challenges to come. "The Minister-President's visit to BELECTRIC is important for both parties and demonstrates the high regard for our achievements," said Martin Zembsch, drawing a positive conclusion from the discussions.

About BELECTRIC®: BELECTRIC is the global market leader in the development and construction of ground-mounted solar 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 a basis for the environmentally friendly energy supply of the future. With more than 25 patents granted every year, BELECTRIC is continuously proving its innovative spirit. BELECTRIC handles all aspects of the realization process - from the planning stage, through construction, and to the operation of photovoltaic systems. This ensures highly efficient decades-long performance. Alongside solar power generation, the subsidiary BELECTRIC Drive® concentrates on the combination of photovoltaics and electric vehicle systems. More information at www.belectric.com.

Kolitzheim/Winterkasten: In what was a significant event for the joinery Ideen-Schreinerei Schmidt in Winterkasten (district of Bergstraße) in the Odenwald mountain range, BELECTRIC installed a roof-mounted photovoltaic system with new Solar Frontier CIS thin-film technology on the roof of the family firm, which has been in existence for over 100 years. CIS thin-film technology combines stable module efficiency levels with minimum raw material consumption in PV module production. The system delivered very good results in the first few months of operation. "Within just six months of operation, we reached an energy yield of 7,500 kWh," reported the delighted company owner Georg Schmidt. "The system is running very well and shows excellent results," added Carsten Köhler, who appraised it in an equally positive way.

For Carsten Köhler, Managing Director of BELECTRIC PV-Dachsysteme GmbH, the Ideen-Schreinerei Schmidt joinery located in the small Hessian village of Winterkasten is a role model when it comes to energy production. "The owner Georg Schmidt made a deliberate decision to install a photovoltaic system on the roof of his shop." Sustainability and regional production have been perfectly combined here.

And the installation of a system from the global market leader in the realization of photovoltaic systems was an equally deliberate decision by the master joiner. The craftsman appreciates the reliable and on-schedule processing of the order as well as its execution by specialists. "It was clear in every stage – from the offer, consulting and planning phases through to the installation – that the BELECTRIC employees have a wealth of experience when it comes to roof-mounted photovoltaic systems," explained Georg Schmidt. The system's high-quality and innovative technology as well as the components used played an important role in the decision in favor of BELECTRIC.

The 8 kWp roof-mounted photovoltaic system means that Ideen-Schreinerei-Schmidt has become a self-supporter when it comes to electricity: it produces enough electricity to almost completely cover the workshop's own energy needs. Ideen-Schreinerei Schmidt is therefore making its own contribution to the energy turnaround and to a future of regenerative energy sources. "What Georg Schmidt has achieved in Winterkasten is exemplary and is exactly the right way to quickly make regenerative energy sources fit for the future," said Carsten Köhler, hoping that many others will follow his example. In addition, the decision to produce energy through photovoltaics means that Georg Schmidt can reduce his energy costs over the long term and thereby secure the future of his joinery business, which has been in existence for over a century.

About BELECTRIC®: BELECTRIC is the global market leader in the development and construction of ground-mounted solar 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 a basis for the environmentally friendly energy supply of the future. With more than 25 patents granted every year, BELECTRIC is continuously proving its innovative spirit. BELECTRIC handles all aspects of the realization process - from the planning stage, through construction, and to the operation of photovoltaic systems. This ensures highly efficient decades-long performance. Alongside solar power generation, the subsidiary BELECTRIC Drive® concentrates on the combination of photovoltaics and electric vehicle systems. More information at www.belectric.com.

Kolitzheim/Munich: Today Solar Frontier and BELECTRIC announced that they have completed a 4.2 MWp solar power plant in Bessan, France, further strengthening their joint collaboration. The project is the first in France to use Solar Frontier’s thin-film CIS modules and marks Solar Frontier’s entry into the French solar project market.
    
BELECTRIC installed 29,931 thin-film CIS modules at the site with an expected output of 4.2 MWp. The whole process from planning through construction to grid connection took only six weeks. This was the latest in a series of recent joint projects between BELECTRIC and Solar Frontier.

“Our plan was based on a reliable installation concept used for several German projects in the past, each with excellent results,” said Jochen Meyer, General Manager, BELECTRIC France. “By lowering the inclination of the solar power plant’s modules, we were able to lower the profile of the power plant itself leading to better integration in the surrounding landscape. Solar Frontier was the right choice for us because their modules perform extremely well even under these conditions.”

The all-black modules were installed at an incline of 15 degrees – lower than the more usual 25 degrees. The design and performance advantages of Solar Frontier’s modules ensure continued high output even at this lower tilt angle. By combining this installation concept with environmentally-friendly CIS modules that have higher output in real conditions, BELECTRIC and Solar Frontier deliver superior performance with lower impact on the environment.

“This is our first project with BELECTRIC in France, and it certainly won’t be our last,” said Wolfgang Lange, Managing Director, Solar Frontier Europe. “It is very satisfying to be able to connect such a high-efficiency solar power plant to the grid. Solar Frontier’s CIS modules offer a winning combination of performance and cost, which will benefit the French market.”

The Bessan power plant uses Solar Frontier’s 140Wp modules, which are not only highly efficient and ecological, but also fit well into the landscape with their all-black finish. The modules are produced at Solar Frontier’s new gigawatt-scale Kunitomi plant in Miyazaki, Japan, the world’s largest CIS manufacturing facility.


About BELECTRIC®: BELECTRIC is the global market leader in the development and construction of ground-mounted solar 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 a basis for the environmentally friendly energy supply of the future. With more than 25 patents granted every year, BELECTRIC is continuously proving its innovative spirit. BELECTRIC handles all aspects of the realization process - from the planning stage, through construction, and to the operation of photovoltaic systems. This ensures highly efficient decades-long performance. Alongside solar power generation, the subsidiary BELECTRIC Drive® concentrates on the combination of photovoltaics and electric vehicle systems. More information at www.belectric.com.

About Solar Frontier: 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.

Sri City (India)/Kolitzheim (Germany): BELECTRIC Photovoltaic India, a subsidiary of the global market leader BELECTRIC, connected India's first solar power plant in Sri City (Andhra Pradesh province) with First Solar thin-film technology to the grid. The project has been realized in close cooperation with the investor Sri Power and First Solar, the leading thin-film module manufacturer. Since the end of February 2011 – following a four-month construction period – the solar power plant, which is part of the CO2-free city project, has been generating an annual total of 1,660,000 kWh of clean energy that could supply around 7,000 indian households per year. This corresponds to CO2 savings of approximately 1,100 tons every year.

Over an area of 2.14 hectares, 14,000 First Solar modules (type FS 272 and FS 277) were installed for the first time in India. Until now most investors in India have relied on traditional silicon module technologies. "The advantage of modern thin-film technology is that the modules deliver an above-average output, even at high temperatures. The frameless design makes the modules insusceptible to dirt. And by continuously reducing manufacturing costs over the past years the modules became more cost-effective than other types.", explains Yogesh Dabhade, CEO of BELECTRIC Photovoltaic India.

Another challenge of this project was the rocky ground. To overcome this, BELECTRIC developed a special substructure to ensure that the power plant is securely anchored. "BELECTRIC performed pioneer work here. Thanks to our years of experience in the realization of ground-mounted solar power plants and the productive cooperation of Indian and German BELECTRIC engineers, we were able to complete the project on this highly demanding ground," said Marjus Geßner, Key Account Manager BELECTRIC.

First Solar also welcomed the joint project. “We are very pleased to extend our long-term collaboration with BELECTRIC to this important new market, continuing our joint efforts to deploy First Solar’s leading thin-film modules worldwide.”, said Jim Brown, senior vice president for First Solar. “Together, we can help India meet its clean-energy objectives under the National Solar Mission and deliver clean, renewable solar energy in a region with growing electricity demand and vast solar potential.”

About BELECTRIC: BELECTRIC is the global market leader for the development and construction of ground-mounted solar 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 realized – 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 First Solar: First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology, and is a premier provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) system solutions. The company is delivering an economically viable alternative to fossil-fuel generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life collection and recycling, First Solar is focused on creating value-driven renewable energy solutions that protect and enhance the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.

Kolitzheim/Munich: Solar Frontier and BELECTRIC announced today that they have installed over 2,500 thin-film CIS modules on the roof of the EDEKA Krawczyk supermarket parking lot in Schwabach, Germany. Leveraging Solar Frontier’s eco-friendly, RoHS compliant CIS modules, the city of Schwabach has nominated the project for its biennial environmental award.

With an overall capacity of 340 kWp, the installation was connected to the grid in July, 2011, and is the first plant of its kind to use Solar Frontier’s thin-film modules. “Our first pilot installation of this kind with Solar Frontier CIS technology has a forecast output of 340,000 kWh and an expected reduction of 230 tons of CO2 emissions per year,” said Martin Zembsch, Chief Sales Officer of BELECTRIC. The new CIS installation provides the additional benefits of Solar Frontier’s solar panel technology, including an all-black finish that fits better into the overall landscape and high durability to withstand harsh weather conditions.

“This first parking lot roof project collaboration between Solar Frontier and BELECTRIC offers supermarkets the compelling economical and ecological benefits of CIS solar power,” said Wolfgang Lange, Managing Director, Solar Frontier Europe. “The installation’s nomination for Schwabach’s environmental award provides increasing evidence that our CIS solar modules are the most eco-friendly currently on the market. We have taken another step together with our trusted partner BELECTRIC to further position Solar Frontier as the technology leader in the market”.

An existing solar installation at an EDEKA supermarket in Gochsheim, Germany, has proven the benefits of using more ecological ways to power commercial facilities. Last year the parking lot was upgraded to an innovative photovoltaic car park, on one hand enabling protection from rain and snow and on the other hand the generation of environmentally friendly electricity. The results were increased revenues thanks to higher customer satisfaction and an overall more positive public image for the supermarket.

An additional feature of the EDEKA Krawczyk supermarket is the installation of an electric vehicle charging point by BELECTRIC Drive. Customers will be able to charge their electrical cars while they’re shopping. “The combination of the photovoltaic car park installation and an electrical charging box for electric vehicles offers our customers the opportunity to make a contribution to CO2 reduction while they are shopping,” said Roland Krawczyk, Manager of the EDEKA supermarket in Schwabach.

Since 1992 the biennial environmental award of the city of Schwabach has been given to an organization or a project which is committed to improving environmental conditions, protecting natural resources or improving the living environment.

Solar Frontier’s CIS thin-film modules are produced at its new gigawatt-scale Kunitomi plant in Miyazaki, Japan. This state of the art facility produces the company’s high performance CIS thin-film modules currently rated up to 155W, which have already been certified by TÜV Rheinland Japan (IEC), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and BRE Global (Microgeneration Certification Scheme, MCS) allowing a global installation all over the world. The recently obtained salt and ammonium resistance certificates also highlight the suitability of the modules in agricultural and seaside areas.

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.

Munich/Kolitzheim: The "Bayern's Best 50“ Award was presented to Bavaria's most dynamic companies for the tenth time. Recipients of the award stand out with an above-average increase in sales and employment figures. BELECTRIC is one of the companies to show particularly strong economic growth.

At the award ceremony held in the Emperor's Hall of the Munich Residenz, Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Zeil emphasized the "effort, commitment and creativity of Bavarian family businesses". The aim of the award is to bring the economic and social importance of these companies into the limelight. "These companies demonstrate entrepreneurial foresight and simultaneously take social responsibility," said Mr Zeil. BELECTRIC outstandingly exceeded the criteria of competition; sales and employment figures show a significant average increase over the past five years. However, more than ten years of development and implementation experience in the construction of ground-mounted solar power plants did not automatically lead to the title of global market leader (EPC) in 2010. Bernhard Beck, managing director of BELECTRIC, described the company's successful concept in more detail: "The quality and reliability that we offer our customers combined with intensive commitment to research and development put BELECTRIC in the position to use the most innovative and efficient technology for solar power generation."

"The company's history of growth will be consistently continued in the future," said Martin Zembsch, defining the company's future course. Alongside his duties as Chief Sales Officer, Mr. Zembsch also occupied the position of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Michael Belschak, who holds a diploma in business administration and gathered years of international experience in commercial business management at Fischerwerke GmbH & Co.KG and Alno AG, will now be entrusted with the function of the Chief Financial Officer for the BELECTRIC corporate group. With this measure in place, Martin Zembsch can concentrate on his tasks as global managing director for sales and continue to drive the company's global expansion forward.

Kolitzheim/Moers: On 30 June 2011, BELECTRIC Drive GmbH and Schleupen AG jointly hosted an information and experience exchange workshop under the title "We live E-mobility" for representatives from the sector of public utilities, local authorities and industry at the Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence Kolitzheim. Alongside speakers from the Verband kommunaler Unternehmen e.V. and smartlab Innovationsgesellschaft mbH, intrigued guests and experts met to exchange their opinions and experiences.

Bruno Altrichter, mayor of the Bavarian pilot town of Bad Neustadt an der Saale, opened the event. He reported on how E-mobility is being tested in rural regions and expressed his support for innovation and environmental protection aspects, citing the strong alliance between local authorities and industrial partners in Bad Neustadt. According to mayor Altrichter, E-mobility – in conjunction with photovoltaic energy production – stands for independence from critical energy supply structures and for the protection of the local climate.

Gunnar Braun, head of the Bavarian committee in the Verband kommunaler Unternehmen e.V. (VKU) referred to the key role local authorities and municipal energy suppliers play in the pursuit of sustainable and innovative mobility. Their structures and local procurement are, according to the VKU, a key foundation for the successful introduction of E-mobility in Germany.
 
"With E-mobility, we are starting a new chapter in the history of electrification, which has been driven forward by municipal energy suppliers for over a hundred years," says Gunnar Braun. Municipal companies are paving the way for E-mobility: they are setting up charging stations, establishing the first fleets and are also involved in pilot regions. For the time being it seems clear that for the most part, no energy grids need to be expanded for the German government's plan to get one million vehicles on the road by 2020. Over the next years we will find out more about the impact of a greater number of e-vehicles and the potential benefits of the frequently discussed storage solution of energy in vehicles for the general power supply in smart grids. With this, we will create the foundation for the development of this new branch of the automotive industry, a perfect task for municipal energy suppliers that have always created the basis for future-proof economic development."

Sebastian Bachmann, CEO of BELECTRIC Drive GmbH, explained the concepts and fields of activity of his company, which is a subsidiary of the Kolitzheim-based global market leader in the development and implementation of photovoltaic systems with 1,600 employees around the world. By combining solar power and the operation of a fleet with over 60 e-vehicles, BELECTRIC shows that E-mobility is already working today. BELECTRIC Drive's key features are patented charging boxes and innovative local load management solutions using solar carports and battery storage. BELECTRIC Drive already offers deployable complete solutions for E-mobility. Sebastian Bachmann describes their distinct feature as follows: "The intelligent charging infrastructure from BELECTRIC maximizes the proportion of solar power in the e-vehicle and relieves the local power grid."

In his talk, Bernd Mildebrath, product marketing team leader at Schleupen AG, also focused on E-mobility solutions that are already available today. With complete offerings including vehicles, charging stations and software solutions, Schleupen already presented its customers capable solutions back in 2010 for testing E-mobility in day-to-day operation. Today, the software manufacturer's solution focuses on functions for customer service and invoicing of the energy supply in E-mobility. It is based on a flexible (role-specific) market model that takes current legal limitations into consideration and efficiently supports the contract-based billing of the electricity supply as the preferred business model of the public utilities sector. Positive feedback from experts in the audience confirmed this approach.

Ms. Meinel, CEO of smartlab Innovationsgesellschaft mbH, presented her company, which was founded by the Aachen, Duisburg and Osnabrück municipal energy suppliers and develops and implements innovative services, products and business models for E-mobility and smart grids. The smartlab products are primarily geared towards local municipal energy suppliers that wish to profit from research and development projects as well as from existing infrastructures. smartlab has launched the ladenetz.de initiative, a network of municipal energy suppliers for E-mobility. Through the constructive collaboration of municipal energy suppliers throughout Germany, charging stations have been installed nationwide. BELECTRIC and Schleupen are cooperating with ladenetz.de and offer their expertise and services on their website. In the meantime, a great number of primarily medium-sized energy providers are involved in ladenetz.de so as to make e-roaming possible for their customers. Electro-mobile end consumers can use their charging cards at any station in the charging network to receive electricity, while their central point of contact remains their local municipal energy supplier. "This makes mobility from the power outlet as easy as using a mobile phone," comments Meinel.

About Schleupen: Schleupen AG was founded in 1970 and, in 2010, generated sales of over 55 million euros with around 430 employees. The largest business area is aimed at the utilities industry and has over 300 customers from the power and water supply industry. In the energy supply industry, Schleupen is one of the few providers to offer an integrated complete solution that covers billing, market communication and power logistics, as well as financial management and economic planning of all network operation resources. Over 15,500 users are working with this solution. Furthermore, with risk to chance, Schleupen offers a risk management system that is used today not only by medium-sized companies but also by listed, international corporate groups. In the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) market segment, Schleupen has established itself as one of the most important distributors of the DMS solutions from EASY. Schleupen AG's fourth area of expertise is IT infrastructure, in which Schleupen covers the spectrum from high-performance computing and highly available IT architectures through to communication solutions for decentralized organizations.

Wildflecken: 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 Rhön 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 Rhön Nature Reserve, the plant is excellently integrated into the terrain and virtually invisible. The project manager, Günther 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."

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.

Munich/Kolitzheim: BELECTRIC Drive has been awarded the coveted Intersolar Award for its intelligent charging infrastructure. The three awards in the categories of photovoltaics, PV production technology and solar thermal technology were presented for the fourth time. The winners were chosen by a jury of experts from research, science, industry and specialist media from a total of 128 international applicants. In their evaluation, the jury paid particular attention to the technological degree of innovation, the benefits for industry, environment and society as well as the economic viability of the products. "The global market leader in the realisation of photovoltaic systems presents the most coherent solution for linking photovoltaics and e-mobility. A development worthy of an award," said Dr Michael Fuhs (chief editor of photovoltaik magazine) in his laudatory speech, explaining the reason behind the decision. The jury was particularly impressed that the system is convincingly well-thought-out from the first through to the last step. With its flexible, modular design, the BELECTRIC charging box combines photovoltaics and e-mobility.

Additionally, the company has also developed a charging system to connect a regeneratively fed energy grid with e-mobility. The local load management co-ordinates the charging times of the e-vehicles with the energy generation. "The BELECTRIC charging box maximises the proportion of solar power in the e-vehicles and relieves the local energy grids," explains Sebastian Bachmann, Chief Excecutive Officer of BELECTRIC Drive. "We are very pleased to have received this innovation award and will concentrate our efforts in the further development of the technology so that e-mobility becomes part of daily life within just a few years."

Munich: On the first day of Intersolar in Munich (8 June 2011), BELECTRIC presented the new 2.0 MegaWattBlock®. The 2.0 MegaWattBlock® is a standardised plant unit with nominal power of 2,000 kWp, any number of which can be combined to create larger ground-mounted solar power plants. The standardised system design, intelligent grid stabilisation technology and BELECTRIC’s many years of experience in plant engineering and construction make solar power generation more cost efficient and reliable than ever before.
 

From the very start, the aim of the BELECTRIC development team was to further decrease the average electricity production costs. Bernhard Beck, CEO of BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH, comments: "For us, the LCOE (Levelised Costs Of Electricity) are one of the most important factors on the energy market. A significant reduction in these costs opens up new opportunities and paves the way for the next generation of solar power plants. And that's exactly what our new 2.0 MegaWattBlock stands for." This cost efficiency is achieved thanks to the highly standardised BELECTRIC system design with perfectly co-ordinated power plant components, which are produced for the most part in house. The special power plant inverter with direct 20 kV medium voltage feed-in is tailored to application with thin-film modules. The dynamic reactive power control enables a significant increase in network stability. The entire design thereby explains the above-average system efficiency of the new BELECTRIC solar power plants. "Power generation at these power plants can compete with offshore wind power," declares Bernhard Beck. Our modular 2.0 MegaWattBlock®  enables us to customise the solution to match the customers power requirements. As the new power plant has been designed to be installed and operated in extreme environmental conditions, it can be deployed in any region of the world.

 

Wittstock: With the turning of the first sod on 25 May in Alt Daber near Wittstock, the starting signal for the largest thin-film solar power plant in Germany was given. The 133 hectare plant of BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH, the international market leader in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of ground-mounted solar power plants 2010, is being constructed on the former Russian army grounds.

"Wittstock and the entire state of Brandenburg have recognised the sign of the times." Martin Zembsch, CFO of BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH, highlighted the positive collaboration with the responsible parties in the town with 15,000 inhabitants in north-west Brandenburg. According to Mr Zembsch, the town relies consistently on regenerative energy. After completion of the solar power plant, more than 71,400,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year will be fed into the grid from the sun. This corresponds to annual CO2 savings of over 50,000 tons. "We shouldn't forget that we are at the start of a great development. What we achieve in small, laborious steps drives renewable energy and the energy revolution forward every day. It's a true success story. It doesn't happen overnight, but instead through the hard work of all those people who see the future ahead of them and want to make a change," emphasises Stephan Hansen, managing director of First Solar.

The work in Alt Daber is scheduled for completion in December 2011 at the latest. In total, over 850,000 modules from the manufacturer First Solar will be installed on the former military grounds. The investment will not only secure the energy supply of approximately 18,000 households, but also the jobs of over 600 employees in the Frankfurt (Oder) region. "The co-operation with the local council and authorities could not have been better," says a pleased Martin Zembsch – a view that Jörg Gehrmann, mayor of Wittstock, could only confirm. He also emphasised the constructive co-operation with the BELECTRIC engineers and the responsible parties, which ensured that the planning phase ran smoothly. Ground was broken just four months after the town of Wittstock signed the contract with BELECTRIC Solarkraftwerke GmbH. "Everyone involved worked very efficiently," commented Martin Zembsch.

Prior to the project, BELECTRIC invested a sum in the low one-digit million range in complex substrate checks, the removal of warfare material and contaminated soils and in the demolition of obsolete buildings. This constituted a significant ecological improvement to the 133-hectare site. Safety and scheduled contract completion were always the top priority and now the renaturalisation and simultaneous commercial use of the conversion real estate can begin. The protected premises offer rare species of animal and plants a new habitat.

Kolitzheim: Great achievement for BELECTRIC Drive. The innovative company based in Lower Franconia has been nominated for the Intersolar Award 2011 for its combination of e-mobility and photovoltaics. The award is presented as part of the Intersolar trade fair in Munich. The BELECTRIC charging box provides an intelligent charging infrastructure that maximises the proportion of solar power in electric vehicles. "The nomination for the Intersolar Award 2011 is a great recognition of our work and shows that we are on the right path with our ideas and innovations," says a pleased Sebastian Bachmann, CEO of BELECTRIC Drive. Over the past years, the Franconian company has made a name for itself as a pioneer in e-mobility. One of the largest fleets of electric vehicles was set up in the "Mainfranken" pilot region. Currently, over 60 electric vehicles are used every day by private individuals, companies and local authorities.

An integral part of BELECTRIC Drive's philosophy is the combination of e-mobility with photovoltaics and using the storage capacity of vehicle batteries to relieve the power grid. "Thanks to innovative charging management, our vehicles run with a maximum proportion of solar electricity," reports the CEO. The BELECTRIC charging box represents the link between the intelligent charging infrastructure and e-mobility. It is fitted with a patented "Plug&Play" mechanism that allows for high-speed exchange. Through the exchange mechanism and location-independent mobile data exchange, technical developments are easy to implement. One trend-setting feature for the future is the connection of the BELECTRIC charging box with a Web portal that is used for system maintenance and control. The local load management system co-ordinates the charging times of the e-vehicles with solar energy generation, which maximises the proportion of solar power in the vehicle batteries and avoids the procurement of expensive peak load power.

The Intersolar Award 2011 is presented by the organisers of Intersolar Europe in co-operation with the Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft (German Federal Solar Industry Association) and with the support of the SEMI PV Group. The prize is awarded in the categories "Photovoltaics", "Solar heat" and "PV production technology" and addresses around 3,000 companies and institutions around the world. The award ceremony will take place in Munich on 8 July 2011 as part of the official Intersolar Europe celebration. For further information, please visit www.belectric-drive.com 

Kolitzheim: BELECTRIC is the global market leader for planning and construction (EPC) of ground-mounted power plants and photovoltaic rooftop installations. In 2010, BELECTRIC (formerly Beck Energy) installed more solar power worldwide than any other company in the industry. This is the result of an analysis of the photovoltaic market recently published by the market research institute IMS Research. Last year, the Bavaria-based company constructed 45 solar power plants and 185 roof-mounted installations with a total output of 313 megawatts. In comparison to 2009, this represents an increase of almost 200 percent in the ground-mounted solar power plant area. To achieve this, over 2,000 kilometres of cable, 3.5 million photovoltaic modules and almost 300 inverter stations were installed in Europe, Asia and the US. On average, the company installed over 1.2 MW of solar power each day across the globe.

"Our great strength is the reliability and quality that we offer our customers," explains Bernhard Beck, CEO of BELECTRIC, naming one of the decisive factors for success. Unlike most competitors, the company offers solutions from a single source. The solar power plants are realised – from planning and construction through to operation – without subcontractors.A further aspect is the use of innovative technologies. "Through intensive research and development, we are in a position to offer our customers the latest and most efficient technology at all times," says Bernhard Beck. "We are already constructing the next generation of solar power plants." The CEO is primarily referring to state-of-the-art thin-film technologies and improved integration into the public power supply grid. Through a modular system design and in-house production expertise, BELECTRIC is able to optimally align all the system components.

The largest solar power plant projects realised by BELECTRIC in Germany in 2010 are located in Reckahn, Herzberg and Rentweinsdorf. Alongside 25 solar power plants in Germany, systems were also constructed in Italy, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Greece, the Middle East and the US. Furthermore, one of the largest photovoltaic greenhouses in Europe with 2.6 megawatts was commissioned in Italy. In 2011, BELECTRIC will further increase its international commitment. Up to 60 percent of the annual contract volume could be realised outside Germany. "Today we already have the possibility of establishing solar power as a competitive alternative to conventional power generation in numerous countries. Together with other regenerative energy sources, solar power generation will already be able to cover the increasing energy demand in just a few years," says Bernhard Beck, looking to the future with confidence.