The Global leading Display and Solar Solutions provider AU Optronics ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today announced that it has successfully accomplished the first 1.2 MW solar project in South Africa with EKSOM, the biggest utility in South Africa, before the 2011 United Nations 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) (*1) . The project includes a tracking system PV power plant in Lethabo and a ground-mounted PV power plant in Kendal. By using AUO's high-efficiency solar module SunForte PM318B00, two power plants can generate 2,200,000 kWh for 1,500 households. This is AUO's first expansion into the African market after having finished a near 5MW project (*2), the largest solar park in the United Kingdom. To fulfill customers' needs worldwide, AUO will work to continuously increase its capacity of high-efficiency PV modules.
South Africa is not only the host of COP17 but also proactively develops its renewable energy recently and drives its first local solar utility project. This is a 1.2 MW project which includes two power plants, one is a 600kW tracking system PV power plant with AUO's high-efficiency module SunForte PM318B00 in Lethabo, which can generate 1,200,000 kWh for 800 households; the other is a 600kW ground-mounted PV power plant in Kendal that can generate 1,000,000 kWh for 700 households in the region nearby.
AUO has started to develop its solar business in 2008 and formed a high-efficiency vertical solar value chain to provide customers with high quality modules and solar power project services. With its global operation and local delivery, AUO's module capacity leaps to the leading position in Taiwan(*3). The company focuses on high-efficiency solar modules which are well-known and popular worldwide. AUO's back contact solar modules that reach more than 19.5% conversion efficiency rate have been successfully produced in Taiwan. To meet the demand of Asian customers for high-efficiency utilities and large-scaled projects, AUO will increase its capacity by more than 50MW in the first quarter of 2012.
“Global Operation, Local Delivery” is AUO's business strategy. In Czech Republic, the company's PV factory has recently obtained Italy's ICIM and Germany's TUV Rheinland certifications to prove its “Made in Europe” modules. AUO's high-efficiency modules are of great quality and widely acclaimed in Europe. The capacity of the PV factory in Czech Republic is currently full. To fulfill the European orders, the company will install new equipments in Czech's PV factory to boost its capacity this quarter.
In addition to the increase of module capacity, AUO's module technology is in line with the latest global green trends. AUO takes the lead in developing and introducing high quality lead-free manufacturing process into solar modules, and has successfully obtained UL1703 certification in the U.S. Customers will be offered clean and environmentally friendly solar products to lower the impact of natural environment. AUO will continue to provide high-efficiency, high quality, lead-free and environmentally friendly solar modules, and customized first-class solar total solutions to clients.
(*1) The 17th UN Conference of the Parties (COP17) Climate Change Conference will be held from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 in Durban, South Africa. This conference will discuss the framework of global CO2 emission that will be the world's focal point.
(*2) AUO cooperated with partners to finish a near 5MW solar park project. This is the largest solar park in United Kingdom with 16 hectares by using AUO's high-efficiency solar modules.
(*3) Based on available market research information as of Dec.1st, 2011.