Oct 22 2009
LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), a leading manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, today announced a supply contract with Enfinity for the largest rooftop solar energy installation project in Benelux (an economic union comprising Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg).
LDK Solar will provide approximately 18,000 solar modules to be installed on the Balta Group's factory rooftop in Sint-Baafs-Vijve, Belgium. The project will be the largest solar installation project in Benelux, with a capacity of 4.2 MWp (megawatt peak) and total panel surface of over 30,000 square meters. The solar panels will deliver an average power output of 3.6 million kW (kilowatt) hours per year, which is equivalent to the power consumption of approximately 1,200 families.
The Balta Group, a manufacturer of broadloom carpets, rugs and laminate flooring, will be utilizing a portion of the solar energy to power its own business activities, with any surplus flowing back to the public grid. For a 20-year duration of the project, Balta Group will enjoy reduced and more stable power bills, in addition to avoiding producing approximately 34.6 million kilograms in carbon dioxide( )emissions.
Enfinity, an international player in renewable energy, negotiated a 20-year lease for Balta Group's rooftop space and has already begun installation of this project. Enfinity is utilizing revenue from the energy produced and the Green Energy Certificates from the Flemish Government to fund its participation in this project.
"Balta's decision to manufacture green energy supports a broader view of sustainability in which the improvement in its energy efficiency and the reduction of CO2( )emission play an important role. As a market leader, we take responsibility to reduce our ecological footprint and contribute to achieving European goals in the area of renewable energy," commented Jules Noten, CEO of the Balta Group. "We are excited to be working with Enfinity, who brings proven expertise and a track record of speedy execution to this project, as well as LDK Solar, who will provide best-in-class solar modules. Balta has more than 61 hectares of rooftop space in Belgium alone, so there is plenty of potential for additional projects in the future."
"We are very pleased to partner with Balta and Enfinity for this ambitious project," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar. "As we work diligently to expand our presence in Europe, we are very excited to provide the solar modules for the largest solar rooftop project in Benelux. This four megawatt module shipment also represents a significant milestone for LDK Solar - our first module volume shipment to Europe."