Suntech Introduces Reliathon - Utility Solar Platform that Reduces Costs and Speeds Up Development of Utility Scale Projects Across the U.S.
Integrated System and Groundbreaking Warranty Save Upfront Costs and Boost System Profitability
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STP), the world's leading manufacturer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules, today announced Reliathon(TM), an industry-first integrated solar platform combining product and business-term innovations to lower costs and accelerate the path to grid parity with the development of utility-scale solar plants. Reliathon reduces total system costs as much as 10% and offers increases in revenue potential, with 13.8% more power warranted over the lifetime of the system.
Replacing the industry's current 'patchwork' approach to designing large- scale systems, Reliathon combines Suntech module innovations, a new utility- grade warranty for the Suntech module, as well as pre-agreed preferential pricing and business terms with industry-leading inverter and tracking companies Advanced Energy, Array Technologies, Satcon, Siemens Industry and SMA.
Developed with specific customer feedback gathered from dozens of utility industry experts, Suntech developed Reliathon to combine product and business term innovations including:
-- Product innovations:
- The new Suntech Reliathon 270-watt module includes self-aligning
panels, integrated grounding, and wire management, as well as a
new "Two-in-One" design, with two 36-cell regions featuring
independent circuits that can create better output on fixed tilt
systems in early morning and late afternoon. All module
innovations result in far less labor time needed to install
Reliathon systems as well as significant reductions in material
costs.
- Array Technologies' DuraTrack(TM) system was designed specifically
for Suntech Reliathon, and makes use of two motors per MW AC
versus the typical four motors per MW, further reducing the
material costs of the system.
- The new Suntech Reliathon ground mount system perfectly matches
Reliathon modules to deliver fixed tilt solutions at lower cost
and greater profitability.
-- Utility-grade Reliathon module warranty: The Reliathon module
includes a 25-year utility-grade warranty offering an
industry-leading 12-year limited product warranty (extended from 5
years) and a 25-year peak power performance warranty now based on
annual degradation instead of 12 and 25-year step-downs. The new
annual peak power performance warranty provides Reliathon module
buyers with 13.8% more warranted power over 25 years. Overall, the
new terms warrant an industry-leading 85% power output level at 25
years.
-- Preferential pricing from industry-leading partners: Power plant
customers purchasing a Reliathon system will have access to
customized Reliathon partner products at preferred pricing and
pre-negotiated business terms offered by Advanced Energy, Array
Technologies, Satcon, Siemens Industry and SMA, providing greater
value over whole system purchase.
"To make the promising utility scale pipeline a reality, innovation and simplicity have to be driven into every level of the solar value chain -- especially installation, an area that offers huge opportunities for reduction of Balance of Plant costs," said Steven Chan, Chief Strategy Officer, Suntech. "Reliathon gives our customers exactly what they have requested: greater power output at lower cost, combined with a simplified development process."
With Reliathon, Engineering, Procurement and Construction companies, utilities and project developers have a straightforward path for vendor selection as they design their large-scale systems. Customers can select a variety of Reliathon components from the selected Suntech partners, each offering particular advantages for specific installation types, as they plan their power plants.
"Suntech has listened to the utility market and come through with innovations that simply make sense," said Frank Greb, Vice President and General Manager of leading solar engineering and construction firm RMT, Inc. "Reliathon makes it more cost effective, not to mention easier, to get utility-scale projects up and running."
Reliathon modules and system components will be available in the United States for immediate orders with shipment scheduled in Q2 2010, and have already been included in over 1GW of US solar project bids. Non-U.S. inquiries are welcome. Reliathon will be on display at this year's Solar Power International conference, from October 27-29th at booth #2009 at the Main Hall of the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Interested customers can also visit: http://www.suntech-power.com/ for more information.
About Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STP) is the world's leading solar energy company as measured by production output of crystalline silicon solar modules. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, and markets premium quality, high-output, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech's patent-pending Pluto technology for crystalline silicon solar cells improves power output by up to 12% compared to conventional production methods. Suntech also offers one of the broadest ranges of building-integrated solar products.
Suntech designs and delivers commercial and utility scale solar power systems in China and the United States. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland and San Francisco and sales offices worldwide, Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we live in and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enable sustainable development. For more information, please visit http://www.suntech-power.com/ .
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and 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, and includes the ability of Reliathon to reduce costs, speed up development of utility scale projects, and increase profitability for solar power plants; the estimated savings for Balance of Plant costs and increase in warranted power over time by utilizing Reliathon; the reduced labor time and reductions in material costs by utilizing Reliathon; the availability of preferred pricing and pre-negotiated business terms with the Reliathon system; and the estimated shipment schedule for Reliathon. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Suntech's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Suntech does not undertake 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 more information, please contact:
Media Contacts:
In the United States:
Sarahjane Sacchetti
Story Labs for Suntech America
Tel: +1-415-268-8881
Email: ssacchetti@suntechamerica.com
In China:
Rory Macpherson
Investor Relations Director
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.
Tel: +86-21-6288-5574
Email: rory@suntech-power.com
Source: Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.
CONTACT: In the United States, Sarahjane Sacchetti, Story Labs for
Suntech America, +1-415-268-8881, ssacchetti@suntechamerica.com; In China,
Rory Macpherson, Investor Relations Director of Suntech Power Holdings Co.,
Ltd., +86-21-6288-5574, rory@suntech-power.com
Web site: http://www.suntech-power.com/