Frost & Sullivan Recognizes SCHOTT Solar for its Consistent and Robust Growth in the Solar Technology Markets for Power Plants

LONDON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- On the basis of its recent research on the solar technology market, Frost & Sullivan presents SCHOTT Solar AG with the 2010 European Frost & Sullivan Award for Growth Leadership. In a rapidly-growing industry challenged by high costs, lack of standards and the need for technologies that enable the mass production of state-of-the-art solar panels to meet the growing variety of photovoltaic (PV) needs of customers, SCHOTT stands apart with year on year growth buoyed by a wide array of quality products, breakthrough technological innovations and a strong commitment to corporate social responsibilities (CSR). The company's annual revenues grew from 283 million EUR in 2006-2007 to 482 million EUR in 2007-2008.

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With 51 years of experience in solar power, SCHOTT Solar's expertise lies in providing advanced manufacturing techniques by combining PV competence with technological know-how for solar power plants. The company is one of the premium integrated quality providers of different PV products in crystalline and thin-film technology and has a worldwide presence through its network of sales partners and system integrators. SCHOTT develops, manufactures and sells high-quality PV products and highly efficient receivers, which is a key factor for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology. CSP not only provides for electricity generation, but also for large-scale applications such as in power plants. Amongst the different CSP processes, solar power plants involving parabolic trough technology have proven their practical value for over 20 years.

SCHOTT Solar's product portfolio in crystalline and thin-film technology includes SCHOTT POLY 175, SCHOTT POLY 225, SCHOTT POLY 280/290, SCHOTT MONO 190, SCHOTT ASI 100 and SCHOTT InDax 225. The company's polycrystalline solar modules have a load capacity of 550 kg/metre square regardless of hurricanes, storms and snow loads. For the benefit of partnering system integrators, the company offers a five year product guarantee and a 25 year performance guarantee.

"With solar cells, crystalline solar wafers, solar power modules and a-Si thin-film modules, SCHOTT Solar provides a wide array of core components in the value chain of the solar energy market," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Suchismita Das. "Beyond offering the best durability factor, the company has grown its market share by providing the latest research on module materials and also by executing the most stringent testing procedures for modules."

In a study lasting over 25 years conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute, SCHOTT Solar's sample solar modules differentiated themselves by an extremely low degradation percentage of less than 10 per cent, promising decades of reliable performance. Further, the company's products pass rigorous certification tests that include DIN ISO 14001:2005 for meeting environmental regulations. To date, the company has successfully installed a total module surface of 5,000,000 square meters. Its modules undergo climate tests that are twice as strict as required by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In order to be 100 per cent environment-friendly, SCHOTT Solar produces calcium free PV.

SCHOTT Solar pursues its commitment towards nature not only by introducing environmentally-friendly processes and materials, but also by carrying out certain programmes and developments for people, planet and profit. Some examples of CSR undertaken by SCHOTT Solar include a 30 KW electric installation for the "Maria Malkia" mission station in Tanzania in 2006, and the installation of a 5 KW solar electric system in Baila's rural hospital ward in the southern Senegalese province of Casamance in 2008. Moreover, SCHOTT Solar is a founding member of the PV Cycle Association that encourages solar companies to replace older solar installations while recycling raw materials in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Together, these factors reveal SCHOTT Solar's supremacy in the solar technology for power plants market. In recognition, Frost & Sullivan is proud to present the company with the 2010 European Frost & Sullivan Award for Growth Leadership. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to a company that has demonstrated excellence in capturing the highest annual compound growth rate for the last three years.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

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 as 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 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 17,400 employees, the SCHOTT Group generated a worldwide turnover of about 2.3 billion euros in fiscal year 2008/2009.

About Frost & Sullivan

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan