May 11 2009
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) (''Yingli Green Energy'' or ''the Company''), one of the world's leading vertically integrated photovoltaic (''PV'') product manufacturers, today announced that it has become the first China-based company and the 40th member to join PV CYCLE, an organization based in Brussels, Belgium that promotes voluntary take-back and recycling of end-of-life PV modules. As a member, Yingli Green Energy will participate in PV CYCLE working groups whose aim is to define collection and recycling targets for the PV industry, develop voluntary agreements among members and hone PV CYCLE's business model and outreach strategy.
''As one of the world's leading vertically integrated photovoltaic product manufacturers, Yingli Green Energy is committed to helping lead the search for a truly sustainable energy solution to reduce life-cycle energy consumption and the environmental impacts associated with PV production. Our membership to PV CYCLE will substantiate our commitment to customers, authorities and stakeholders, while allowing us to join a global team of industry leaders that are similarly committed to preventing climate change tomorrow,'' said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy.
''We are honored that Yingli Green Energy has become the first China-based PV manufacturer to join our organization. We hope Yingli Green Energy's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of PV production will encourage other Asian manufacturers to take steps towards developing a sustainable PV solar industry,'' said Jan Clyncke, Managing Director of PV CYCLE. ''PV modules are designed to generate clean, renewable energy that can last for more than 25 years. The first significant installations took place in the early 1990s, and full-scale end-of-life recycling is still another 10 to 15 years away. It is with this in mind that we aim to bring industry leaders together to devise solutions that will have the maximum impact when the time comes.''
The PV CYCLE membership, which began on April 29, 2009, represents another step forward in Yingli Green Energy's commitment to developing sustainable energy solutions throughout all stages of the PV value chain. In addition to module recycling, Yingli Green Energy has also developed award-winning water treatment procedures which have received ISO 14000 and 14001 certification.