DGAP-News: SolarWorld Group concludes new wafer contracts for 1.5 billion EUR

24.05.07 | 08:08 Uhr

SolarWorld AG / Miscellaneous

24.05.2007

Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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SolarWorld AG is vigorously expanding its business with the international
solar cell and module industry. The Deutsche Solar AG subsidiary has
entered into new long-term agreements with a number of globally operating
cell and module manufacturers for the supply with solar silicon wafers from
the Freiberg production. The order volume of these new contracts runs up to
a total of 1.5 billion EUR for the SolarWorld Group. The time span of the
orders covers the period until 2018. 51 per cent of the orders originate
from Europe. Asia follows with a rate 37 per cent. China and Taiwan alone
account for 16 per cent of all new supply contracts. 12 per cent of the
wafers ordered will be shipped to North America. The entire order backlog
of Deutsche Solar AG for external customers from existing orders and new
contracts amounts to 4.0 billion EUR.
These new delivery contracts will additionally support the expansion of
wafer production and employment in Freiberg. At the same time Deutsche
Solar AG will strengthen its position as one of the world leaders in the
manufacture of very thin silicon wafers for the solar industry and secure
its long-term customer relations.
In addition to supplying the external international demand Deutsche Solar
AG will also take account of the internal demand in the group by making
roughly the same order of magnitude of wafers available for further
processing to SolarWorld AG's own solar cell and solar module factories.

Largest solar off-grid project to date completed:
After the first 99 villages in China the SolarWorld Group electrifies
another 44

The SolarWorld Group has additionally agreed its largest project to date
for the electrification of rural regions located far away from the national
grid. For 44 villages in the West Chinese province of Qinghai the
SolarWorld Group will supply 4,800 solar modules with an output of 80 Watt
each and will also install the solar systems. The villages that have so far
been cut off from any power supply will thus get access for the first time
to electrical energy. 'The supply of electricity is one of the most
important tasks for the economic development of rural regions especially in
developing and threshold countries', says SolarWorld Chairman and CEO
Dipl.-Ing. Frank H. Asbeck. 'The use of solar energy is eminently suitable
for this purpose not only under climate protection but also under economic
aspects'. So far the group has already equipped 99 villages in China with
off-grid solar technology. The power generated serves the inhabitants for
lighting and refrigeration purposes as well as to operate other electrical
appliances.

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 Freiberg in Saxony the group has one of the world's most
advanced integrated solar production facilities. Among the currently most
important sales markets are Germany, the United States and in the rest of
Europe especially Spain. In addition, sales offices operate in South Africa
and Singapore, completing the international line-up of the group. The
responsibilities of these offices include the sale of rural solar power
solutions that can make an important contribution to the fair and
sustainable economic development of the southern hemisphere. In the trading
business SolarWorld AG offers modules for on-grid and off-grid solar power
generation as well as complete solar power systems for centralized and
decentralized electricity production.
After the IPO at the end of 1999, the company developed within a few years
to one of the largest fully integrated solar technology groups. 1,725
persons worked for the Group by the end of the first quarter of 2007.
SolarWorld AG is listed at the stock exchange in the technology index
TecDAX, in the Dow Jones STOXX 600 as well as the international MSCI index
and the sustainability index NAI.


Contact:
SolarWorld AG Investor Relations / Marketing Communications
Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 12-14, D-53113 Bonn
Phone No.: +49 (0)228/55920 -470; Fax No.: +49 (0)228/55920-9470,
E-mail: placement@solarworld.de Internet: www.solarworld.de



DGAP 24.05.2007
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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
www: www.solarworld.de
ISIN: DE0005108401
WKN: 510840
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Düsseldorf;
Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, München, Hamburg, Stuttgart;
Terminbörse EUREX

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