SolarWorld AG / Miscellaneous
04.01.2008
Release of a Corporate-announcement, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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SolarWorld AG gives Pope Benedict XVI a solar system as a gift for Epiphany
Solar power annually avoids 315 tons of CO2
SolarWorld AG is making a gift in the form of a solar power system to Pope
Benedict XVI. This was announced by Frank Asbeck, Chairman and CEO of
SolarWorld AG, in Bonn. 'If the Three Wise Men from the East came to
Bethlehem today they would in all probability bring a solar cell in
addition to gold, frankincense and myrrh. It is the symbol for the
preservation of creation and for the energy supply of the future.' That is
how Frank Asbeck explains this gift on the occasion of the forthcoming
Epiphany Day. In Southern countries this day is marked by the giving of
gifts to commemorate the Three Holy Kings.
'With our gift we are paying tribute to the German pope. We support the
commitment of the Catholic Church to a responsible use of the resources of
creation,' says Asbeck in his explanation. Last summer SolarWorld AG had
gathered from the media that the Vatican was planning to install a solar
power plant on the roof of the papal audience hall. The SolarWorld CEO got
in touch with the Governor of the Vatican to offer the solar system as a
gift. 'For us this was also an obvious thing to do because Pope Benedict
had lived in our Bad Godesberg Rhine Quarter during his time in Bonn. We
therefore feel very closely attached to him', Asbeck goes on to explain.
The gift was formally accepted by the Vatican on behalf of the Pope just
recently.
SolarWorld was able to convince the Vatican with its overall concept for
the solar power plant. It takes into consideration not only the energy
technology aspects but also the highly sophisticated integration of the
photovoltaic system into the papal audience building.
The roughly 2,000 SolarWorld modules will already be installed on the roof
of the Aula Paolo VI audience hall in the summer. They will provide the
very first solar power ever generated in the Vatican to the tune of some
315,500 kWh annually. This will help avoid about 315 tons of CO2. The
SolarWorld engineers will replace the existing pre-cast concrete ribs on
the south side of the domed roof by special modules from the companys own
production. The solar modules will adapt in an optimum way to the fan shape
widening from north to south of the architecturally very challenging
building. It is especially the wave structure and the associated aesthetic
appeal of the roof in the shade of St. Peters in Rome that will be
retained in this way.
The inverters for the plant will be made available by the German
manufacturer SMA. In the implementation of the project in the Vatican
SolarWorld AG will be supported by its Italian distribution partner of many
years standing - Tecnospot Srl.
The start of the construction work to begin soon, the progress of the work
and the hand-over of the completed building in 2008 will be documented on
film on the spot. Some first photographs as well as a simulation are
available on our Internet page under www.solarworld.de/pressarea
About SolarWorld AG: The SolarWorld Group (ISIN: DE0005108401) is among the
top trio of the solar power industry worldwide. The group is dedicated
exclusively to the core business of solar energy, combining all stages of
the solar value chain, from the raw material silicon to turn-key solar
power plants. The company operates production facilities in Germany, Sweden
and the USA. In California the largest production site in the USA for solar
modules and in Oregon the largest production site in the USA for solar
wafers and cells are being created. In Freiberg in Saxony the group
operates one of the worlds most advanced integrated solar production
facilities. Among the currently most important sales markets are Germany,
the USA and in the rest of Europe especially Spain. Sales offices in
Germany, Spain, California, South Africa and Singapore service the
international solar markets. In addition to on-grid solar power products
the group increasingly distributes rural solar power solutions
internationally that can make an important contribution to the sustainable
economic development of rural regions.
After the IPO at the end of 1999, the company developed within a few years
into one of the largest fully integrated solar technology groups. At the
end of the third quarter of 2007 some 1,969 people were working for the
group. At the stock exchange SolarWorld AG is listed among others in the
technology index TecDAX, in the Öko-DAX, in the Dow Jones STOXX 600, in the
international MSCI Index as well as in the sustainability indices DAXglobal
Alternative Energy and NAI.
Over and above this SolarWorld AG is getting involved at the social policy
level in order to push ahead the principle of sustainability and to sharpen
public awareness of resource and climate protection.
Moreover, SolarWorld is involved at the sociopolitical level in order to
further the sustainability notion and raise awareness for climate and
resources protection.
Contact:
SolarWorld AG Investor Relations / Marketing Communications,
Tel.-No.: +49 228 55920 -470; Fax-No.: +49 228 55920-9470,
E-mail: placement@solarworld.de
Internet: www.solarworld.de
DGAP 04.01.2008
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Language: English
Issuer: SolarWorld AG
Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 12-14
53113 Bonn
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)228 - 559 20 470
Fax: +49 (0)228 - 559 20 99
E-mail: placement@solarworld.de
Internet: www.solarworld.de
ISIN: DE0005108401
WKN: 510840
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Düsseldorf;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, München, Hamburg, Stuttgart;
Terminbörse EUREX
End of News DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-News: The Fourth Gift of the Three Kings: 'A Solar Cell'
| Source: EQS Group AG