Global Solar Energy Unveils PowerFlex(TM) at WIREC 2008

Date: 8 March 2008

Thin-film Solar Leader Expands Market Opportunity with Highly-efficient CIGS Material Expanding the Product Integration Possibilities for PV Power Worldwide Global Solar Energy, a solar industry leader that manufactures CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide) thin-film solar cells on a foil substrate introduces its PowerFlex (TM) material.

On display at this week's Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) in Washington D.C., attendees can view the lightweight, conformable material that is being integrated into products to combine power and building material functionality, greatly expanding the potential of solar applications and Global Solar's market opportunity.

Global Solar's manufacturing process deposits CIGS materials onto a thin, pliable and unbreakable substrate. The outcome is an efficient thin-film photovoltaic (PV) material that can be configured and adapted to the changing designs in the solar industry. The Company produces standard CIGS solar cells and glass module solar cell strings compatible with traditional glass manufacturing worldwide. In addition, Global Solar's CIGS material provides the industry with an opportunity to create integrated solar products for the next generation of energized building markets.

"The unique combination of high efficiency, low cost and flexibility offered by PowerFlex opens Global Solar to new emerging markets, such as Building Integrated PV (BIPV)," said Mike Gering, CEO of Global Solar. "Now, in addition to supplying our thin-film cells to the traditional glass module markets, we can furnish companies with highly-efficient, affordable and flexible material to be built directly into commercial, residential and government products of their design."

Based on three years of actual production experience codifying proven and stable production processes, Global Solar is the only company reliably producing CIGS in full-scale production. The Company's unmatched 10 percent average efficiency solar cells in full-scale production are encapsulated in glass or on a pliable substrate for cutting-edge applications, including energized building products. Global Solar's new manufacturing plant, opening this week, will enable high-capacity production of these materials to meet ever-increasing demand. With the opening of this U.S. plant and another new plant opening in the fall of 2008 in Berlin, Germany, Global Solar's full global production capacity is expected to exceed 70 megawatts (MW), setting new industry records worldwide for CIGS production capacity.

"We understand that multi-billion dollar companies require reliable, stable, highly-available materials to develop and manufacture innovative new products," said Tim Teich, vice president of sales and marketing of Global Solar. "Our predictable supply of dependable PowerFlex will enable our partners to create and introduce products not yet seen on the market. For example, building product and roofing companies will now be able to create energized building materials with PV built directly into the functionality of their products."

Availability

AdvertisementPowerFlex is available to qualified manufacturers. The product line is currently on display at WIREC 2008, taking place at the Washington Convention Center, booth #407, March 4-6, 2008. Please contact Global Solar at info@globalsolar.com for more product information or to schedule a demonstration at the show.

About CIGS Thin-Film Technology

Global Solar has developed a proprietary process for manufacturing thin-film CIGS photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules. Global Solar is the only company reliably producing CIGS that can be encapsulated in traditional glass modules or in a flexible substrate. CIGS creates more electricity from the same amount of sunlight than do other thin-film PV technologies and therefore has a higher "conversion efficiency" leading to lower cost. CIGS conversion efficiency is also extremely stable over time, meaning its performance continues unabated for many years.

About Global Solar Energy

Global Solar Energy is a solar industry leader that manufactures highly-efficient thin-film solar cells for glass module or flexible material products. Global Solar is the only Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) manufacturer in full-scale production on a flexible substrate and has achieved 10 percent average solar cell efficiency. Its thin-film CIGS strings are not dependant on silicon and instead use highly-available raw materials that are easily integrated into a wide range of applications for use in commercial, residential, utility-scale and government products. For more information, please visit www.globalsolar.com.