Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company"), a leading solar energy company and one of the world's largest vertically integrated photovoltaic ("PV") manufacturers, which markets its products under the brand "Yingli Solar", marks Earth Day 2012 by emphasizing the importance of a strong commitment to the environment and local communities.
"As a leading renewable energy company, Yingli Green Energy has long been committed to sustainable development and good governance," said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy. "We have gained a comprehensive understanding of the lifecycle emissions of our products, and remain dedicated to ensuring a low energy pay-back period for our solar modules. As a result, we plan to launch more carbon-neutral products in the future, optimize our energy management systems, and keep improving energy efficiency within our manufacturing facilities."
All over the world, more than 3.6 GW of Yingli Solar modules have been installed, corresponding to approximately 4.7 million tons of CO2 saved or 121 million trees planted. During the manufacturing process, Yingli Green Energy is continuously committed to minimize its CO2 emissions. Just recently Yingli Green Energy obtained the "Product Carbon Footprint Verification" by TUV Rheinland.
Yingli Green Energy has not only established a reputation as a supplier of high-quality solar products, it is also strongly committed to social and environmental initiatives. The Company is actively involved in creating a more sustainable future by utilizing its renewable energy products and supporting numerous projects worldwide.
Since 2010, the Company has been working together with FIFA on the "20 Centers for 2010", the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa(TM). The aim of the campaign is to build 20 Football for Hope Centers for education, public health and football across Africa. Seven community centers have already been completed in South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Mali, Lesotho, Ghana and Rwanda. Yingli Green Energy is providing its expertise in solar energy as well as solar modules that bring light to the community centers and football pitches. Yingli Green Energy and FIFA will continue their collaboration and are developing joint projects in Brazil as part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup(TM) sustainability strategy.
In the United States, Yingli Green Energy's recent agreement with the non-profit, GRID Alternatives, builds on a 1MW partnership from 2011 that brought clean power to over 400 low-income homeowners across California, saving those disadvantaged families an estimated US$11 million over the systems' lifetimes, while giving hands-on solar installation experience to thousands of workers and job trainees. In 2012, Yingli Green Energy will be supplying another 1 MW of solar energy through a combination of donated and fair market-priced modules. The two partners will be supporting over 800 low-income families in California and Colorado by the end of the year.
"The pledge to sustainable development belongs to our core values. Since we entered the PV industry in 1998, we have constantly focused on making clean solar energy affordable for everyone. We all have to pull together in order to create a more sustainable future for the next generations", commented Mr. Miao.