Best conditions in southern Spain to achieve grid parity in the foreseeable future

Hamburg / Madrid, 16 February 2012 – Another solar park equipped with Conergy products has been connected to the grid in southern Spain. On an area of almost 89 acres near the town of Mazarrón in the Murcia region, the two local Conergy partners Valfortec and Solaer installed components from the system supplier. Now more than 22,000 modules on more than 31 miles of Conergy SolarLinea mounting systems are producing clean energy here.

It is the complete package that gave Conergy the edge: "For us as a solar specialist, optimised complete solutions, quality and reliable guarantees represent the ultimate package. Conergy offers solar technology that combines these characteristics in its entire product range, but also in its services and especially in its guarantees," says Fidel Roig, Valfortec's Managing Director. Ignacio Arganza, Solaer's Managing Director, adds: "We have installed Conergy components with a total output of more than 20 MW since 2009 and we are fully convinced. These products deliver high yields, are easy to configure and to install. And Conergy provides first class technical support."

With close to 2,800 hours of sunshine a year and an irradiation level exceeding 1,700 kilowatt hours per square metre, southern Spain also represents an extremely attractive location for solar plants. The new Conergy park will generate more than 8.1 gigawatt hours of clean energy annually, sufficient to supply 2,700 households throughout the year. At the same time, the solar park will prevent the emission of over 4,000 tons of CO2.

Sunny southern Spain offers the best conditions for achieving grid parity
With its numerous hours of sunshine, southern Spain thus provides the best conditions for achieving grid parity in the foreseeable future, the stage when solar power consumed by a household costs no more than power from finite fossil fuels or nuclear power sources – without any subsidies. In spite of the moratorium currently in force in the country, this also continues to be the declared aim of the Spanish government, which is currently in discussions about suitable supportive measures for achieving grid parity in the near future.

"Currently, it is only possible to construct and connect projects that were approved before the moratorium, such as the Conergy park near Mazarrón," says Luis Jiménez Gutierrez, Managing Director of Conergy Spain. "Obviously, a moratorium is never a cause for joy. But according to its own statements, the government is holding firm to its view that there will be some appropriate support measures to smooth the path of Spain's photovoltaic sector towards grid parity. We are therefore definitely optimistic and expect the government to implement measures in this area in the near future, which will ensure planning security for the entire industry."

About Conergy
Conergy delivers solar energy systems from a single source. As a system supplier, Conergy produces all components for a solar installation and offers all services under one roof.

With its modules, inverters and mounting systems, the solar expert creates Conergy System Technology, which is efficient solar energy systems for private or commercial rooftops, as well as for multi-Megawatt Parks. Conergy System Services deliver a "Worry-Free Package" for Conergy solar installations – from "A" for architectural planning to "Y" for yield insurance and "Z" for zero trouble. Conergy's experts not only install on-site turn-key solar projects, but they also manage the planning and financing, project implementation, system monitoring, operation and on-going maintenance of the project for maximum performance. With this comprehensive technology and service package, Conergy offers yield insurance for its installations. Conergy System Sales brings Conergy premium products to nearly 40 countries. From "A" for Australia to "T" for Tunisia – the solar expert supports homeowners, installers, wholesalers and investors in their efforts to "go solar". With sales activities on five continents, Conergy has close relationships with all its customers. In 2010, more than half of Conergy's sales were generated outside of Germany.

Listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange, Conergy employs more than 1,500 people worldwide. Since Conergy's founding in 1998, it has produced and sold more than 1.6 GW of clean solar energy. Thus, in 2011 Conergy solar installations have generated almost as much power as a nuclear reactor.