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Suntech Energizes Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi with Solar Energy

Posted on: Wednesday, 12 August 2009, 07:00 CDT

WUXI, China and the United Arab Emirates, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest crystalline silicon photovoltaic module manufacturer, today announced it has been selected by Aldar Properties PJSC to supply over 1,120 solar panels for a 292 kW solar system for The Shams Tower, an iconic building on Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Enviromena, the Abu Dhabi based solar power system integrator, has designed and will install the solar system and Aldar, Abu Dhabi's leading property development, management and investment company, is developing the project.

"We commend Aldar and the Yas Marina Circuit management for incorporating Abu Dhabi's sustainable vision into the course design," said Nader Jandaghi, Suntech's Director of Middle East Sales. "They have shown motorsport enthusiasts worldwide that racing excellence can also contribute to a cleaner tomorrow. Suntech looks forward to continuing to collaborate with highly experienced partners such as Aldar and Enviromena to bring solar to the UAE."

The 2,500 square meter building integrated solar array, which sits on the 60-metre high Shams Tower, will simultaneously provide shade for the car park underneath and produce 450 megawatt hours of clean, solar electricity annually. Power generated will not only offset electricity needs during motorsports events, but will also continue to power the Yas Marina Circuit facility for decades, saving 400 tons of greenhouse gases annually.

"Enviromena is delighted to be working with Aldar and Suntech on the Yas Marina Circuit. This unique project will demonstrate how solar can be incorporated into the built environment and serve as a high profile example for sustainable design in Abu Dhabi," said Sami Khoreibi, President and CEO of Enviromena. "Suntech's expertise in building integrated solar products and commitments to quality and technology innovation are an excellent fit with Enviromena's mission to promote environmentally sustainable development in the Middle East."

Steve K Worrell, Aldar's Director-Mixed Use Development, Yas Island Project, said, "We are very pleased that with the assistance of Enviromena and Suntech, we were able to create a solar solution that delivered impressive aesthetics and maximized solar energy production at the Yas Marina Circuit development. The government of Abu Dhabi is committed to achieving a target of 7% renewable energy by 2020 and Aldar is delighted to play its part in this goal."

Abu Dhabi was recently picked as the headquarters for the International Renewable Energy Agency, and continues with initiatives to show the rest of the region how clean solar energy can co-exist within population centers. Abu Dhabi's sustainability culture was the vision of His Highness, the late Founding Father and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, who championed the cause of environmental stewardship.

This is the second high profile project in the Middle East that Suntech has participated in. Earlier this year, Suntech supplied 5MW of solar panels for a 10MW solar system to power Masdar City, the world's first carbon neutral city being built in Abu Dhabi. The project was also designed and installed by Enviromena.

About Aldar

Aldar Properties PJSC is Abu Dhabi's leading property development, management and investment company. It listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities market in 2004. Aldar was established to support the region's infrastructure through the creation of high quality, attractive and sustainable communities equipped with residential, commercial, retail, leisure, hospitality, education and medical facilities.

Aldar's diverse property portfolio includes major developments and re-developments within Abu Dhabi including Yas Island, Al Raha Beach, Central Market, Nareel Island, and Noor Al Ain. The company owns over 50 million square metres of land in strategic locations throughout the Emirate. For further details visit http://www.aldar.com .

About Enviromena

Enviromena is an Abu Dhabi based solar power system integrator dedicated to meeting the growing energy needs of the MENA region. Our solar power solutions create clean power, actively contributing to reducing climate change and creating a sustainable future.

The company's highly experienced team designs, supplies and installs turnkey photovoltaic power systems for utility scale, commercial and residential applications. Other services include design and installation of solar hot water systems and solar powered lighting products.

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 under the MSK Solar Design Line(TM).

Suntech designs and delivers commercial and utility scale solar power systems through its wholly owned subsidiary Suntech Energy Engineering and will own and operate projects greater than 10 megawatts in the United States through Gemini Solar Development Company, a joint venture with Renewable Ventures, a Fotowatio company. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland and San Francisco and sales offices worldwide including the United Arab Emirates, 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 the solar system to produce 450MW hours of energy and off set 400 tons of greenhouse gases annually. 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: For Suntech: In China: Rory Macpherson Investor Relations Director Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Tel: +86-21-6288-5574 Email: rory@suntech-power.com In the United States: Kristen McNally Executive Vice President The Piacente Group, Inc. (Investor Relations Counsel, Suntech) Tel: +1-212-481-2050 Email: suntech@tpg-ir.com For Enviromena: Sarah Longland Marketing and Communications Manager Tel: +971-50-123-0539 Email: slongland@enviromena.com For Aldar: Adil Babikir, Media Specialist Tel: +971-2-696-4723 Mob: 050-686 1380 Email: abadikir@aldar.com

SOURCE Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.

Source: PR Newswire

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