Q-Cells AG and PowerLight Corporation Announce Long-Term Solar Photovoltaic Supply Agreement

Business Wire, Oct 12, 2006

Leading Solar Companies Partner to Bring MWs of Solar Power to Customers Worldwide

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Q-Cells AG, the world's largest independent manufacturer of crystalline silicon solar cells, and PowerLight Corporation, the leading global provider of large-scale solar power systems, have entered into a five-year, $150 million photovoltaic PV supply agreement. Q-Cells will provide PowerLight with up to $150 million of high quality solar cells, with a PowerLight option to increase that volume by an additional $60 million of solar PV cells.

The Q-Cells - PowerLight partnership will allow Q-Cells (QCE; WKN 555866) to expand its presence in the U.S. solar market, and further ensure PowerLight's leadership position as North America's largest and most experienced provider of solar power systems for the commercial, public sector and production homebuilder markets.

Anton Milner, CEO and founder of Q-Cells, said, "We are very pleased that PowerLight has chosen to secure PV from Q-Cells. This deal will showcase the tremendous results that will come from combining PowerLight's proven approach to design, development and deployment of solar power systems with Q-Cells' high-performance photovoltaic technology. Working in partnership with a highly-regarded solar company as PowerLight will allow both firms to further grow the worldwide market for solar power while reducing system costs over time."

"Q-Cells is a leading PV supplier to the global solar marketplace," noted PowerLight president Dan Shugar. "Their technology, growth rate and success has been tremendous and the supply of their PV to PowerLight will help us continue to deliver the highest-performing solar power systems for commercial, utility, public sector and residential customers around the world."

About Q-Cells

Founded in 1999, Q-Cells AG, based in Thalheim, Germany, is the leading independent manufacturer of PV cells worldwide and one of the most rapidly growing companies in the PV industry. With its current workforce of nearly 900 employees, Q-Cells expects to produce multi- and mono-crystalline silicon cells with a total output of 255 MWp in 2006. Q-Cells supplies independent module manufacturers in all strategic markets throughout the world. The company targets primarily the high performance market of PV module and system suppliers, where its products add significant value to its customers. Q-Cells is currently in the process of increasing its production capacity to 336 MWp until the end of 2006.

About PowerLight

PowerLight Corporation is the leading global provider of large-scale solar power systems, delivering unmatched experience and proven financial performance to commercial, utility, public sector, and residential customers. PowerLight's industry-leading products, technologies and services enable our customers to maximize clean energy output along with project savings. Today, PowerLight designs, deploys, and operates the largest solar power systems in the world through market-leading innovation and exceptional customer service. For more information, please visit www.powerlight.com.