BP Solar and RGE Energy AG Announce One of the World’s Largest Solar Installations In Germany

Agreement covers 66 MW including a 46 MW single installation. BP Solar to supply crystalline PV modules with an innovative energy guarantee.

-- Jointly issued by BP Solar and RGE Energy, Hamburg/Munich --

RGE Energy AG is partnering with BP Solar in planning one of the world’s largest solar projects. The large-scale PV installation with over 46 megawatt peak (MWp) will be built in Koethen, Saxony-Anhalt. Around 210,000 crystalline photovoltaic modules with an output of 220 watt peak each will be supplied by BP Solar and installed by RGE Energy AG.

Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar, and Elias Issa, CEO of RGE Energy AG, announced the news in Munich at ’Intersolar’, the world’s largest solar exhibition.

The project launch is planned for the third quarter of 2009, the approval procedure is being processed currently, and by the end of the year, all BP Solar modules are set to be installed.

The planned solar system will deliver around 43,000 megawatt hours per year of green electricity. This is enough to yearly supply about 11,500 four-people-households with electricity and to save around 25,600 tons of CO2 emissions.
The project in Koethen is part of a cooperation agreement between the two companies that covers the installation of solar projects totalling 66 megawatts (MW) output. In addition to Koethen, other projects planned include a 15 MW solar system at Eberswalde airport and an option for another 15 MW.

Due to the high quality project development standards that RGE Energy AG has demonstrated, BP Solar is offering a guarantee on yield for the solar modules it supplies. Until now this has been reserved for turn-key projects developed by BP Solar. If the system does not deliver the overall energy yields guaranteed by BP Solar, BP Solar will cover the difference on the basis of the currently valid feed-in tariff.

“BP Solar is playing an important role in delivering utility-scale solar installations. Our strategy is to offer our customers the lowest cost in cents per kWh over the life of a solar system. With the additional yield guarantee, we are standing behind the quality of our product. We are convinced that our cooperation with RGE Energy AG will benefit us greatly in the German market, a market we strongly value”, Reyad Fezzani explains, “This project also emphasises our view that PV crystalline technology will continue to be a leader in the solar sector.”

“As a company with a long-standing experience in developing projects of large-scale solar power plants, we constantly focus on the highest quality and safety standards of our projects. This approach applies not only to the financing, project planning, installation and security concept of the solar system, but equally to the quality of installed solar modules”, says Elias Issa, “We’re therefore delighted to have found with BP Solar a very reliable and strong partner for our projects.”
Notes to Editors

RGE Energy AG is a European-wide operating solar company with locations in Frankfurt/Main, Schwedt/Oder, Berlin and Bremen. The company performance includes the planning, financing, construction and operation of photovoltaics systems on contracted roofs and free field sites as well as the construction of turn key projects for private investors. Together with its subsidiary company, SBU Photovoltaik GmbH, RGE has been constructing solar systems since 1998 and has continued to expand ever since. Currently, the group has an installed capacity of more than 70MWp and is one of the most experienced project developer, installer, operator and investors in the German market.

BP Solar, part of BP Alternative Energy, is a global company. BP Solar designs, manufactures and markets products which use the sun’s energy to generate electricity for use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 35 years of experience and installations in most countries, BP Solar is one of the world’s leading solar energy companies.

BP Alternative Energy, launched in November 2005, combines all of BP’s interests in low and zero-carbon energy including wind, solar, hydrogen power with carbon capture and storage, and biofuels. Alternative Energy invested $1.5bn in 2006 to 2007 and around $1.4bn in 2008.