EANS-News: centrotherm photovoltaics reports successful cooperation with Chinese state company in key polysilicon production equipment areas

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Company Information

Subtitle: • Commissioning of second expansion step currently
underway with annual capacity of 3,000 tones • Customer STSIC
focusing on integrated solar manufacturing chain with centrotherm
technology and systems ranging from polysilicon production to
ingoting and solar cell production

Blaubeuren (euro adhoc) - December 19, 2011 - centrotherm SiTec GmbH,
one of the world´s leading technology providers for polysilicon, last
week celebrated the successful cooperation with its Chinese customer
Shaanxi Tianhong Silicon Industrial Corporation (STSIC) in key
equipment items for the first expansion step for polysilicon
production. The Chinese state company, which is headquartered in the
Shaanxi Province, had previously signed its final acceptance, the
so-called Final Acceptance Test (FAT). The two companies will
meanwhile optimize processes further and bolster research and
development into cutting energy consumption. STSIC has expressed its
satisfaction with the cooperation venture, and is pleased with its
results. centrotherm SiTec, for its part, enjoys certain benefits in
terms of technology.

The first expansion step is arranged for annual capacity of around
1,250 tonnes of polysilicon to semiconductor quality. centrotherm
SiTec prepared the factory concept, developed the process flow,
accompanied the project through the planning and implementation
stages, delivered the key equipment (reactors and converters), and
started up the system together with the customer. centrotherm
photovoltaics and STSIC are working hard together on the current
commissioning of the second expansion step at STSIC, which entails
state-of-the-art 24-pair reactor technology, and offers planned
annual production of 3,000 tonnes to semiconductor quality.

Along with polysilicon production, STSIC is focusing on technology
and systems from centrotherm to manufacture ingots and solar cells.
Favorable production costs can be achieved by relying on this
integrated solar value chain. STSIC achieved "First Ingot Out" with a
centrotherm multi-crystalline ingot furnace in the middle of this
year. Furthermore, two solar cell production lines with a total of 60
MW annual capacity are currently being commissioned.

For centrotherm, STSIC is an important solar market player that
focuses on integration along the solar value chain to achieve
optimally coordinated manufacturing processes that offer both lower
operating costs and outstanding quality.

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, ingots and bricks, crystalline solar cells and modules, 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 around 1,900 staff, and operates
globally in Europe, Asia and the USA. centrotherm photovoltaics
achieved revenue in the 2010 financial year of EUR 624,2 million, and
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

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

end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: centrotherm photovoltaics AG
Johannes-Schmid-Str. 8
D-89143 Blaubeuren
phone: +49 (0) 7344 91880
mail: info@centrotherm.de
WWW: http://www.centrotherm.de
sector: Energy
ISIN: DE000A0JMMN2
indexes: TecDAX
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München
language: English