EANS-News: centrotherm photovoltaics AG/Kinetics Germany GmbH consortium signs major order to construct fully integrated factory in Algeria

• Order volume of around EUR 290 million
• Annual production capacity of 116 MW
• First high-performance modules to be completed by 2014

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Company Information

Subtitle: • Order volume of around EUR 290 million
• Annual production capacity of 116 MW
• First high-performance modules to be completed by 2014

Blaubeuren (euro adhoc) - April 27, 2011 - A consortium consisting of
centrotherm photovoltaics AG and Kinetics Germany GmbH signed an
agreement this week with state utility Société Nationale de
l'Electricité et du Gaz (Sonelgaz) to construct an almost fully
integrated solar module factory in Algeria. This factory will impress
by covering the entire solar value chain, ranging from ingot
production and solar cell manufacturing through to solar module
end-products, although it will not include the production of silicon
as a raw material. The high degree of integration in the production
of solar wafers, cells and modules allows low production costs to be
achieved, thereby resulting in high-quality modules at competitive
prices.

The order volume for the consortium consisting of centrotherm
photovoltaics and Kinetics weighs in at around EUR 290 million, with
the largest proportion of this amount being attributable to
centrotherm photovoltaics, the solar specialists from Swabia in
Germany. In line with centrotherm photovoltaics' company policy, the
order will only be reported in the order book if certain internal
criteria are satisfied, such as a pre-payment. As part of this
turnkey project, centrotherm photovoltaics will deliver all of the
photovoltaic systems on a turnkey basis, ranging from
multi-crystalline ingot furnaces and ingot manufacturing through to
module production, and it will provide support to Sonelgaz all the
way through to system commissioning. Kinetics will be responsible for
engineering services, construction management, the turnkey production
of the building, and the technical fittings for the building.

The first high-performance modules should be produced by 2014 at the
plant, which is to be constructed at Rouiba, 30 km east of the
capital Algiers. These modules are primarily intended to supply the
domestic market. The largest solar module factory in the African
continent's second largest country will deliver an annual production
capacity of around 116 megawatt peak (MWp) and is to be constructed
on a land area of around 43,000 m² - which corresponds to the size of
approximately six football fields.

"It gives us pleasure to be able to support Sonelgaz in this
groundbreaking photovoltaic project. Our expertise as a photovoltaic
technology leader, the lowest production costs per watt-peak, and our
many years of experience in turnkey projects proved persuasive to our
Algerian customers", commented Robert M. Hartung, CEO and Management
Board Chairman of centrotherm photovoltaics AG. "Solar energy
possesses great market potential particularly in very sunny countries
such as Algeria, or in the Arabian region, because it is unrivalled
in terms of cost compared with other energy sources."

With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Algeria is one of
the countries with the highest solar radiation levels in the world.
By way of comparison: annual levels of 1,500 hours of sunshine are
regarded as average in Germany. According to information provided by
Algerian sources, around 6 to 8 percent of electricity demand in
Algeria is to be covered from renewable energy by 2020, and even as
much as up to 35 percent by 2040.

About centrotherm photovoltaics AG centrotherm photovoltaics AG,
which is based at Blaubeuren, Germany, is the world's leading
technology and equipment provider for the photovoltaics sector. The
company equips well-known solar companies and new sector entrants
with turnkey production lines and single equipment to manufacture
silicon, crystalline solar cells and thin film modules. As a
consequence, the Group possesses a broad and well-founded
technological basis, as well as key equipment at practically all
steps of the photovoltaics value chain. centrotherm photovoltaics
guarantees its customers important performance parameters such as
production capacity, efficiencies, and completion deadlines. The
Group employs over 1,400 staff members, and operates in Europe, Asia
and the USA. centrotherm photovoltaics achieved revenue in the 2010
financial year of EUR 624.2 million, EBIT of EUR 75.4 million. The
company is listed in the TecDAX index on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange.

Contact:
Saskia Feil
Senior Manager Investor & Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8890
E-mail: saskia.feil@centrotherm.de

Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel: +49 7344 918-8898
E-mail: torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: centrotherm photovoltaics AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel.: 07344 - 918-8898
E-Mail: torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de

Branche: Energy
ISIN: DE000A0JMMN2
WKN: A0JMMN
Index: TecDAX
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Berlin / free trade
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Stuttgart / free trade
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