MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Solar EnerTech Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: SOEN) (the "Company") today announced that it has received its Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) certification for a wide range of its crystalline power modules.
Underwriters Laboratories is a global leader in energy product testing and certification. The focus of the UL standards is in providing requirements for materials, construction and the evaluation of the potential electrical shock and fire safety hazards. The market access requirements for photovoltaic (PV) equipment are segmented in two main areas -- safety and performance -- that are integral to each other in the overall construction. UL's ability to combine technical and regulatory expertise enables manufacturers like Solar EnerTech to complete the certification process in a predictable and effective manner.
Solar cells and solar cell assembly, polymeric materials, junction boxes, connectors and connecting cables are regarded as critical components of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Their compliance with established UL standards is crucial for entry into the North America market. A UL certification ensures that Solar EnerTech's PV products (trademarked as SolarE) fully complies with all safety, environmental and other performance requirements established by UL.
"Achieving our UL certification is a notable accomplishment for our company and will provide us with the ability to more easily penetrate the market in North America," commented Leo Young, Chief Executive Officer of Solar EnerTech. "Having already completed certification for IEC, VDE and TUV in the European markets, we are also setting our sights on the rapidly growing U.S. and Canadian markets focusing on grid-tied utility-scale installations and roof top projects. The UL certification gives assurance to our customers in North America that Solar EnerTech fully complies and meets government subsidized PV project requirements in the region."
"We believe our internal quality control requirements are actually more strict than many of the UL standards in order to ensure the durability and dependability of our modules in different environmental conditions. For example, among the 23 tests established by UL, one test is the damp-heat test which requires a solar panel be subject to 85 degrees C temperatures (185 degrees F) and a humidity environment of 85% for 1,000 hours (85 plus or minus 2 degrees C /85 plus or minus 5%/1000h). Solar EnerTech sets its testing facilities at the same environment, but doubles the testing duration to 2,000 hours, which further enhances our reputation and product quality among our growing customer base."
Solar EnerTech's UL certificate can be identified by accessing UL's official website at: http://www.UL.com , under "Certifications." Solar EnerTech's certification file number is: E315077.
The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Y.H. Zhang as its Chief Technology Officer ("CTO"). Ms. Zhang, prior to joining Solar EnerTech in 2006 as its Associate CTO, worked for China's national space program on space solar applications. Ms. Zhang has extensive knowledge and experience in high-efficiency cells and applications. Her main responsibility is to oversee the Company's solar cell production with technical guidance and focusing on increasing solar cells' overall efficiency at real-time manufacturing, as well as working with the Company's joint lab partnership with Shanghai University for the Company's ongoing R&D projects.
The Company also announces the appointment of Dr. Z.Q. Ma as its Chief Science Officer ("CSO"). A specialist in semiconductor material physics, Dr. Ma was previously the Company's CTO and in charge of the Company's R&D Lab with Shanghai University. Dr. Ma is a professor of microelectronics and condensed matter physics at Shanghai University and is also a researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) and at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI).
Recently, Dr. Ma introduced his semiconductor-insulator-n/p junction (SINP) technology at the 19th International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference held in Jeju, Korea from November 9-13, 2009. SINP employs a method to apply a SiOx buffer layer that plays a key role for the transfer of carriers in sole orientation through tunneling effect of the solar cell, hence producing high-efficiency cells at a lowered manufacturing cost.
"We have high confidence in Ms. Zhang's new position and look forward to Dr. Ma's continuous contributions as the new Chief Science Officer. As we continue to expand our business and operations, it is important that we have the right team in place to better serve the needs of our growing base of customers," concluded Mr. Young.
About Solar EnerTech Corp.
Solar EnerTech is a photovoltaic ("PV") solar energy cell manufacturing enterprise incorporated in the United States with its corporate office in Mountain View, California. The Company has established a sophisticated 67,107-square-foot manufacturing facility at Jinqiao Modern Technology Park in Shanghai, China. The Company currently has two 25MW solar cell production lines and a 50MW solar module production facility.
Solar EnerTech has also established a Joint R&D Lab at Shanghai University to develop higher efficiency cells and to put the results of that research to use in its manufacturing processes. Led by one of the industry's top scientists, the Company expects its R&D program to help bring Solar EnerTech to the forefront of advanced solar technology research and production.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based largely on current expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond our control that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from these statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are relevant as of the date of the given press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. Solar EnerTech undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements.
For more information, please contact:
Bill Zima
ICR Inc.
Tel: +1-203-682-8200 (Investor Relations)
