BAODING, China, and TEMPE, Ariz., June 1 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ --
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) ("Yingli Green
Energy"), one of the world's leading vertically integrated photovoltaic ("PV")
product manufacturers, the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands ("ECN"),
a leading solar research center in Europe, and Amtech Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ASYS) ("Amtech"), a global supplier of production and automation
systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, today
announced a three-party research collaboration agreement to develop next
generation high efficiency solar cells.
The joint project under the agreement endeavors to develop and implement
high efficiency N-type silicon solar cells, named PANDA, at Yingli Green
Energy's pilot production line in Baoding, China. The high efficiency cells
will utilize the cell design of ECN, the solar diffusion technology and dry
PSG removal expertise of Tempress Systems, Inc., Amtech's solar subsidiary
("Tempress"), and Yingli Green Energy's leading cell process technology. The
construction of the pilot production line does not require significant capital
expense, as it only requires moderate changes to the current production lines.
"Yingli Green Energy always strives to be at the forefront of the latest
technological developments in the PV industry," said Mr. Liansheng Miao,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy. "To that end, we
are very pleased to be entering into a cooperation that combines our strong
commercialization capabilities with the strengths of a global research
institution and a leading equipment supplier. We look forward to playing a
crucial role in the introduction of the next generation of high efficiency
solar cells. PANDA aims at significantly raising the efficiency of
crystalline silicon solar cells and at commercializing the new technology
quickly on our production lines."
"We are very happy that ECN's technology for N-type crystalline silicon
solar cells is going to be industrialized in cooperation with these ambitious
partners with a long operating history in the PV industry," said Ton Hoff,
Chairman of the Board of ECN.
J.S. Whang, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented,
"We are excited about this joint agreement with leaders in the industry and
its potential to contribute to significant improvements in solar cell
efficiency and bring solar energy closer to achieving grid parity. PANDA is
true validation for Tempress' in-depth diffusion expertise and our capability
for supplying reliable diffusion and automation equipment to the solar
industry."
About Yingli Green Energy
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) is one of the
world's leading vertically integrated PV product manufacturers. Yingli Green
Energy designs, manufactures and sells PV modules and designs, assembles,
sells and installs PV systems that are connected to an electricity
transmission grid or operate on a stand-alone basis. Based in Baoding, China,
Yingli Green Energy sells its PV modules to system integrators and
distributors located in various markets around the world, including Germany,
Spain, Italy, South Korea, Belgium, France, China and the United States. For
more information, please visit http://www.yinglisolar.com .
About The Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands
The Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands is the largest research
center in the field of energy in the Netherlands. ECN's technology is used in
the production of solar cells, as well as other alternative energy sources.
In cooperation with universities, ECN develops high-quality knowledge and
technology for a sustainable energy system, and transfers these to the market.
ECN is located near Petten, the Netherlands, and employs approximately 630
people. The ECN website is http://www.ecn.nl .
About Amtech
Amtech Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASYS) manufactures capital equipment,
including silicon wafer handling automation, thermal processing equipment and
related consumables used in fabricating solar cells and semiconductor devices.
Semiconductors, or semiconductor chips, are fabricated on silicon wafer
substrates, sliced from ingots, and are part of the circuitry, or electronic
components, of many products including solar cells, computers,
telecommunications devices, automotive products, consumer goods, and
industrial automation and control systems. The Company's wafer handling,
thermal processing and consumable products currently address the diffusion,
oxidation and deposition steps used in the fabrication of solar cells,
semiconductors, MEMS and the polishing of newly sliced silicon wafers.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements
constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects,"
"anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and
similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current
expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events
that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of
which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Yingli Green
Energy's and Amtech Systems' control, which may cause Yingli Green Energy's
and Amtech Systems' actual results, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information
regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in
Yingli Green Energy's and Amtech Systems' filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. Neither Yingli Green Energy nor Amtech Systems
undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under
applicable law.
For further information, please contact:
For Yingli Green Energy
In China:
Qing Miao
Director, Investor Relations
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited
Tel: +86-312-3100-502
Email: ir@yinglisolar.com
Courtney Shike
Brunswick Group LLC
Tel: +86-10-6566-2256
Email: yingli@brunswickgroup.com
In the United States:
Katie Cralle
Brunswick Group LLC
Tel: +1-212-333-3810
Email: kcralle@brunswickgroup.comFor Amtech Systems, Inc.
Bradley C. Anderson
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +1-480-967-5146
MKR Group, Inc.
Investor Relations
Todd Kehrli or Jim Byers
Tel: +1-323-468-2300
Email: asys@mkr-group.comSOURCE Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited