Mainz/Victoria, December 10, 2009 – SCHOTT Solar AG is expanding its training program and will begin offering seminars for solar installation personnel in Victoria, Australia, as well, starting in early December. In doing so, the company is looking to further encourage unique but practical installations of solar systems – like the four solar systems in Australia that were recognized with environmental energy prizes in Canberra only a few weeks ago, for instance.

During these training sessions, the 15 to 20 installers in attendance learn how to maximize the efficiency of the high quality SCHOTT Solar modules for the benefit of their customers. They also familiarise themselves with the product range, the manufacturing techniques used at SCHOTT Solar and a detailed overview of the individual quality characteristics, as well as the areas of application for these products. Other contents of the training program include advice on successful sales negotiations and how to work with customers, as well as tips on servicing the system once installed. SCHOTT Solar conducts these training programs, which are offered on a quarterly basis together with its Australian sales partner, Going Solar.

Going Solar also happens to be the company that won three of the four awards referred to above for SCHOTT Solar installations. All in all, the “Clean Energy Council 2009 Awards for Excellence” were presented in ten categories. The customer Solgen Energy also succeeded in convincing the judges with one of its installations of SCHOTT Solar modules. Yet another award went to a company called Harmonic Industries that likewise relied on the quality that SCHOTT Solar offers for its award-winning solar system. “We are extremely proud of the awards that our partners and customers received, for which we were able to pave the way with our high-quality modules. Results like these have encouraged us to internationalise our proven training program for installers and introduce it in Australia,” says Board member Michael Harre, Chief Sales Officer for SCHOTT Solar.

Going Solar convinced the jury for the fourth year in a row, this time in the categories “Domestic Solar Hot Water” and “Designing & Installing a Grid-Connect Photovoltaic System” – in the dimensions “less than 5kW” and “5kW to 20kW”.

In the category “Designing & Installing a Grid-Connect Photovoltaic System 5kW – 20kW”, a project from Going Solar at Tecoma, Victoria, was recognized. The solar system for the congregation of the “Uniting Church” not only sets an example for solar energy, but also symbolizes religion: the modules were installed on the roof in the shape of a large cross.

Going Solar was also able to convince the jury in the category “Designing & Installing a Grid-Connect Photovoltaic System less than 5kW” with the help of a solar system for the school of the Overnewton College in Taylors Lakes, Victoria, which has unusual roof angles. Additional framing ensures that the system faces true north, an aspect that increases the output of the system by an additional six percent. The installation is in a high visibility location on the campus and therefore attracts a lot of attention. For instance, quite a few families and employees have inquired as to how practical it would be for them to have solar panels installed on their homes. “PV systems on schools are important, not just because they provide power and help educate students, but also because they help promote the concept of solar energy to the wider community,” explains Jo Bradly, Administration Manager at Going Solar.

Solgen Energy also excelled with a solar system on top of a school. In the category “Designing & Installing a Grid-Connect Photovoltaic System (above 20kW)”, the jury paid tribute to the largest solar power system at any Australian school, the 25kW solar electric system at Redlands School in Cremorne. It is estimated that the project will produce around 40,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. According to Solgen’s calculations, the system will save up to 43 tonnes of CO₂ emissions from being released into the atmosphere. The jury expressed praise for the innovative manner in which the installation used two faces of the roof to maximize the solar yield.

About the Award

The Clean Energy Council was formed by the merger of the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and the Australian Wind Energy Association (Auswind). Each year, the judging panel looks for innovative, environmentally compatible and well-documented systems that reflect excellent performances in the area of design and installation with grid- coupled power systems. SCHOTT Solar’s partner Going Solar had already won Clean Energy Council Excellence Awards in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Overview of successes with SCHOTT Solar modules in 2009

Designing & Installing a Grid-Connect Photovoltaic System (less than 5kW) – Going Solar

Designing & Installing a Grid-Connect Photovoltaic System (5kW to 20kW) – Going Solar

Designing & Installing a Grid-Connect Photovoltaic System (over 20kW) – Solgen Energy

Best-tested Renewable Energy System – Harmonic Industries

About SCHOTT Solar

SCHOTT Solar, with its high quality products, enables the potential of the sun as a nearly inexhaustible source of energy to be utilized. And it’s for exactly that reason that SCHOTT Solar produces important components for photovoltaic applications and solar energy plants. In the photovoltaic industry, the company is one of the few integrated manufacturers of crystalline silicon wafers, cells and modules. In thin-film technology, SCHOTT Solar also describes itself an advanced supplier due to having over twenty years of experience. And in the production of receivers for solar power plants, SCHOTT Solar sees itself as a market and technology leader. The receivers are key components in large-scale power plants that generate electricity from solar energy centrally on the basis of parabolic trough technology and are able to supply entire cities with power. SCHOTT Solar has production facilities in Germany, the Czech Republic, the USA and Spain. The innovative power and technological competence of the company date back to the late 1950s. SCHOTT Solar GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the international SCHOTT technology group. SCHOTT develops special materials, components and systems for the household appliance, pharmaceutical, solar energy, electronics, optical and automotive industries. With around 17,300 employees, the SCHOTT Group generated a worldwide turnover of about 2.2 billion euros in fiscal year 2007/2008.

Contact:

SCHOTT Solar AG
Lars Waldmann    
Press and Public Relations
Phone:     +49 (0)6023 - 91 1811
Fax:     +49 (0)6023 - 91 1700
lars.waldmann@schott.com
www.schottsolar.de


Fink & Fuchs
Public Relations AG
Christina Rettig
Phone:     +49 (0)611 - 74131 934
Fax:     +49 (0)611 - 74131 21
christina.rettig@ffpr.de
www.ffpress.net