Solar Electricity Will Save PV Module Manufacturer Over $1 Million Annually in Energy Costs

Lake Mary, FL., April 20, 2011 – Advanced Solar Photonics (ASP), a leading manufacturer of monocrystalline PV modules, solar generators, and racking systems for residential, commercial, and utility applications announced today that it will soon become the one of the first manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) modules to be powered by energy generated from its own solar farm.

The energy generated will come from part of the 10 megawatt (MW) Rinehart solar farm to be sited on the rooftop and surrounding grounds of the of the company’s corporate offices and production facility in Lake Mary, Florida. Now nearing completion of phase one of the project – a roof top plant totaling 120 kilowatts (kW) – The Rinehart Solar Farm is on track to begin providing power to ASP’s production facility in May 2011.

“While benefits of solar energy are numerous and undisputed, a disadvantage associated with the use of PV module technology is the intensive consumption of energy – specifically, the electricity required from burning fossil fuels to manufacture both the PV modules and balance of system (BOS) components. Although the impact to the environment is debatable, the solution is clear – utilizing solar energy to power its own production” said Demitri Nikitin, company President and CEO.

Plans call for the solar farm to be generating the balance of 5 MW of energy needed to power equipment for the company’s 318,000 square foot, 75 MW capacity plant, by the end of the year. This synergy demonstrates a true closed-cycle PV generation and PV module manufacturing project believed to be the first of its kind in North America. The Rinehart Solar Farm will also supply Progress Energy Florida with renewable solar energy through a power purchase agreement (PPA).

Advanced Solar Photonics (ASP) is manufacturer and R&D center of monocrystalline PV modules and racking systems for residential, commercial, and utility applications. Based on the latest cell efficiency, light transmission, and encapsulation technologies ASP PV modules are among the most advanced and efficient solar energy generating devices. ASP focus is high efficiency PV modules ranging from 190 watts to 400 watts.