Auburn Hills, Mich., October 18, 2011- United Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (NASDAQ:ENER) and a leading global manufacturer of lightweight, flexible thin-film solar modules, today announced a new customer relationship under their Open Solar™ initiative with GP Solar, a GP® Batteries company of Hong Kong, and an initial order of 600 kilowatts (kW) of UNI-SOLAR® photovoltaic (PV) cells.
United Solar initiated the Open Solar program to drive wide-scale acceptance of its UNI-SOLAR PV technology, and the integration of its laminates and cells seamlessly and cost effectively into everyday applications. GP Solar is deploying UNI-SOLAR PV technology with the introduction of its unique GP Solar Charger. The Solar Charger combines UNI-SOLAR PV cells with GP Solar’s Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries, produced under license from ECD’s Ovonic Battery Company.
Andrew Ng, Chairman and Chief Executive of GP Batteries International Limited, said, “We are very pleased with our new partnership with United Solar, and we believe this working relationship will strengthen GP’s product portfolio as well as better promote green energy to the world.”
”United Solar is excited to expand our commercial relationship with GP Solar with this order,” said Chris Bala, Vice President of Sales, and Open Solar program lead. “We expect this is just the beginning of a long and mutually successful relationship with GP Solar, leveraging our mutual strengths in solar technology development and commercialization of consumer electronics.”
UNI-SOLAR’s unique, triple-junction, thin-film cell architecture produces more real-world power then competitive products, differentiating products like the GP Solar Charger from the competition. Additional Open Solar products include building integrated PV (BIPV) roofing, solar-powered military shelters, and solar-powered consumer bags and chargers. United Solar will be exhibiting at booth #2135 during Solar Power International 2011 in Dallas this week.
United Solar, with more than 25 years experience in the solar industry, is the largest manufacturer of light weight, flexible solar panels in the world, and has been awarded nearly 70 United States patents for various technological advancements. For more information about the Open Solar initiative, please visit http://www.opensolar.com/.
About Energy Conversion Devices/United Solar
Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) (Nasdaq:ENER) is a global leader in building-integrated and rooftop photovoltaics. The company manufactures, sells and installs thin-film solar laminates that convert sunlight to clean, renewable energy using proprietary technology. ECD’s UNI-SOLAR® brand products are unique because of their flexibility, light weight, ease of installation, durability, and real-world efficiency. The company also designs, manufactures and installs rooftop photovoltaic systems, which enable customers to transform unused rooftop space into a value-generating asset. ECD’s Ovonic Materials Division includes the Ovonic Battery Company, the inventor and worldwide licensor of nickel-metal-hydride battery technology and the developer of proprietary advanced lithium-ion cathode materials, along with other emerging energy storage technologies. ECD’s Ovonyx joint venture is the inventor and worldwide licensor of phase change memory (PCM) technology. For more information, please visit ECD on the web at energyconversiondevices.com and on Facebook, and follow ECD on Twitter @ECD_ENER.
About GP Batteries
GP Batteries International Limited, a member company of Gold Peak Group, is principally engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of batteries and battery-related products. It has been listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited since 1991. Since its establishment, GP Batteries has developed to the world’s top 5 battery manufacturers and Asia’s No. 1 consumer battery manufacturer (excluding Japan). It is also the largest consumer battery manufacturer in China. It supplies an extensive range of battery products to original equipment manufacturers, leading battery companies as well as consumer retail markets under its own GP brand name. GP Batteries’ major production facilities are located in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Malaysia, supported by marketing and trading offices spanning across Asia, Europe and North America. For more information on Gold Peak and GP Batteries, please visit our website at: www.gpbatteries.com.sg
Contact:
Kim Paulson
Corporate Marketing Manager
United Solar
+1 (248) 299-6081
pr@uni-solar.com
Charlotte Wong
Senior Corporate Communications Manager
Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Limited
+852 2485 5328
charlotte_wong@goldpeak.com
