AUO to Showcase Its Integrating Position in the Solar Supply Chain at Italy's SolarExpo
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on May 3, 2010 at 4:21:01 AM
AUO to Showcase Its Integrating Position in the Solar Supply Chain at Italy's SolarExpo
First Solar Module Plant in Czech Republic to Enter Mass Production in Q2
HSINCHU, Taiwan, May 3 -- AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) will exhibit at SolarExpo 2010 in Verona, Italy from May 5-7 to showcase products including high-efficiency EcoDuo mono-crystalline solar modules, the popular EcoDuo PM220P00 multi-crystalline solar modules, and ground-mounted systems for the Italian open fields market. The SolarExpo is one of the most noted professional PV trade shows in the world. This year it boasts an increase of 22.2% in the number of exhibitors over the previous session, surpassing SNEC in China and Intersolar in Germany to become one of the most well-known industry events.
AUO will exhibit ground-mounted systems designed specially for the Italian open fields market. Also, the Company will demonstrate its capability in providing quality "PV total solutions" with its extensive experiences in modules, power systems and PV projects during the exhibition. In addition, the 230-250W EcoDuo mono-crystalline solar modules come in black or white to match conveniently with the design of buildings. Furthermore, each of them weighs 15% lighter than the same-sized modules on the market, making installation much easier.
To deliver the products in time, reduce carbon emission caused by transportation from Asia to Europe, and implement AUO's Green Solutions, AUO established a solar module plant in Brno, Czech Republic, right in the center of the European continent. The plant will start mass production in the second quarter of this year and is expected to reach the capacity of 100MW in 2011. Leveraging the Company's strength in global deployment, AUO's solar module plant in Brno is the first automated module plant in Europe(*) among Taiwanese companies. The production line is built with highly-integrated automation system, which significantly increases product precision. The quality of the solar modules is therefore guaranteed, a safeguard choice for the European users.
Due to its profound experiences in employing high-precision TFT-LCD technologies to the mass production of solar modules, AUO has become a frequent participant in the large-scale solar power system projects in Europe. The Company has applied its experiences in TFT-LCD production and yield rate management to PV modules and vertically integrated all key technologies up and down the PV value chain, from polysilicon, solar module to PV system. Unlike many others who still engage in manual mode or low-end production, AUO is capable of offering solar modules with longer lifetime and higher efficiency. Meanwhile in its clean energy business, AUO now collaborates with M. Setek to obtain quality polysilicon and solar wafers on the upstream side to produce silicon solar modules which could achieve 25 years of power performance.
In addition to endeavors in PV materials, modules and systems, AUO has also performed brilliantly in managing solar projects. In Hungen City, Germany, the Company delivered 12,672 solar modules and set up a solar park with its partners. The 2.9MWp solar-power plant is estimated to create Euro 16.79 million worth of electricity over its 20-year operation period, cutting 1,900 tons of CO2 emission each year.
AUO is currently in partnership with two major European industry players to develop open-field solar power system projects in Italy. It is estimated that the projects of PV systems will generate as much as 6.5 MWp of electricity. The Company will continue to devote itself to the production of solar modules and integration of power systems while joining many more large-scale projects and PV investments. AUO will also closely cooperate with local dealers around the world to develop a complete wholesale network of solar modules. The distribution system is expected to be established by the end of 2010.
*Based on available market research information as of May 3, 2010.
ABOUT AU OPTRONICS
AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) is a global leader of thin film transistor liquid crystal display panels (TFT-LCD). AUO is able to provide customers with a full range of panel sizes and comprehensive applications, offering TFT-LCD panels in sizes ranging from 1.2 inches to greater than 65 inches. AUO generated NT$359.3 billion (US$11.2 billion) in sales revenue* in 2009 and now houses a staff of more than 42,000 employees, with global operations in Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the U.S., and Europe. Additionally, AUO is the first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to be successfully listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AUO extended its market to the green energy industry in late 2008, and formally founded its Solar Photovoltaic Business Unit in October, 2009. For more information, please visit AUO.com.
* 2009 year end revenue converted at an exchange rate of NTD31.95:USD1.
Safe Harbour Notice
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), a global leader of TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above news. Except for statements in respect of historical matters, the statements contained in this Release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements were based on our management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the time regarding matters including, among other things, future revenues and costs, financial performance, technology changes, capacity, utilization rates, yields, process and geographical diversification, future expansion plans and business strategy. Such forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including risks related to the flat panel display industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance of and demand for our products, technological and development risks, competitive factors, and other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27th, 2009.
Source: AU Optronics Corp.
CONTACT: Freda Lee, Corporate Communications Division, AU Optronics Corp.
at +886-3-5008800 x3206, fax: +886-3-5772730 or freda.lee@auo.com; Yawen Hsiao,
Corporate Communications Division, AU Optronics Corp. at +886-3-5008800 x3211,
fax: +886-3-5772730 or yawen.hsiao@auo.com
Web site: http://www.auo.com/
First Solar Module Plant in Czech Republic to Enter Mass Production in Q2
HSINCHU, Taiwan, May 3 -- AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) will exhibit at SolarExpo 2010 in Verona, Italy from May 5-7 to showcase products including high-efficiency EcoDuo mono-crystalline solar modules, the popular EcoDuo PM220P00 multi-crystalline solar modules, and ground-mounted systems for the Italian open fields market. The SolarExpo is one of the most noted professional PV trade shows in the world. This year it boasts an increase of 22.2% in the number of exhibitors over the previous session, surpassing SNEC in China and Intersolar in Germany to become one of the most well-known industry events.
AUO will exhibit ground-mounted systems designed specially for the Italian open fields market. Also, the Company will demonstrate its capability in providing quality "PV total solutions" with its extensive experiences in modules, power systems and PV projects during the exhibition. In addition, the 230-250W EcoDuo mono-crystalline solar modules come in black or white to match conveniently with the design of buildings. Furthermore, each of them weighs 15% lighter than the same-sized modules on the market, making installation much easier.
To deliver the products in time, reduce carbon emission caused by transportation from Asia to Europe, and implement AUO's Green Solutions, AUO established a solar module plant in Brno, Czech Republic, right in the center of the European continent. The plant will start mass production in the second quarter of this year and is expected to reach the capacity of 100MW in 2011. Leveraging the Company's strength in global deployment, AUO's solar module plant in Brno is the first automated module plant in Europe(*) among Taiwanese companies. The production line is built with highly-integrated automation system, which significantly increases product precision. The quality of the solar modules is therefore guaranteed, a safeguard choice for the European users.
Due to its profound experiences in employing high-precision TFT-LCD technologies to the mass production of solar modules, AUO has become a frequent participant in the large-scale solar power system projects in Europe. The Company has applied its experiences in TFT-LCD production and yield rate management to PV modules and vertically integrated all key technologies up and down the PV value chain, from polysilicon, solar module to PV system. Unlike many others who still engage in manual mode or low-end production, AUO is capable of offering solar modules with longer lifetime and higher efficiency. Meanwhile in its clean energy business, AUO now collaborates with M. Setek to obtain quality polysilicon and solar wafers on the upstream side to produce silicon solar modules which could achieve 25 years of power performance.
In addition to endeavors in PV materials, modules and systems, AUO has also performed brilliantly in managing solar projects. In Hungen City, Germany, the Company delivered 12,672 solar modules and set up a solar park with its partners. The 2.9MWp solar-power plant is estimated to create Euro 16.79 million worth of electricity over its 20-year operation period, cutting 1,900 tons of CO2 emission each year.
AUO is currently in partnership with two major European industry players to develop open-field solar power system projects in Italy. It is estimated that the projects of PV systems will generate as much as 6.5 MWp of electricity. The Company will continue to devote itself to the production of solar modules and integration of power systems while joining many more large-scale projects and PV investments. AUO will also closely cooperate with local dealers around the world to develop a complete wholesale network of solar modules. The distribution system is expected to be established by the end of 2010.
*Based on available market research information as of May 3, 2010.
ABOUT AU OPTRONICS
AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) is a global leader of thin film transistor liquid crystal display panels (TFT-LCD). AUO is able to provide customers with a full range of panel sizes and comprehensive applications, offering TFT-LCD panels in sizes ranging from 1.2 inches to greater than 65 inches. AUO generated NT$359.3 billion (US$11.2 billion) in sales revenue* in 2009 and now houses a staff of more than 42,000 employees, with global operations in Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the U.S., and Europe. Additionally, AUO is the first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to be successfully listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AUO extended its market to the green energy industry in late 2008, and formally founded its Solar Photovoltaic Business Unit in October, 2009. For more information, please visit AUO.com.
* 2009 year end revenue converted at an exchange rate of NTD31.95:USD1.
Safe Harbour Notice
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), a global leader of TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above news. Except for statements in respect of historical matters, the statements contained in this Release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements were based on our management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the time regarding matters including, among other things, future revenues and costs, financial performance, technology changes, capacity, utilization rates, yields, process and geographical diversification, future expansion plans and business strategy. Such forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including risks related to the flat panel display industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance of and demand for our products, technological and development risks, competitive factors, and other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27th, 2009.
Source: AU Optronics Corp.
CONTACT: Freda Lee, Corporate Communications Division, AU Optronics Corp.
at +886-3-5008800 x3206, fax: +886-3-5772730 or freda.lee@auo.com; Yawen Hsiao,
Corporate Communications Division, AU Optronics Corp. at +886-3-5008800 x3211,
fax: +886-3-5772730 or yawen.hsiao@auo.com
Web site: http://www.auo.com/