Reinforces manufacturing framework for residential-use thin-film CIS modules

Tokyo, July 1, 2013 – Solar Frontier today restarted its Miyazaki No.2 Plant. The 60 MW annual capacity plant at Kiyotakecho in Miyazaki, Japan, had been temporarily suspended since the end of 2012 and Solar Frontier has since been evaluating the feasibility of manufacturing new products. In July, the plant will restart the manufacturing of conventional thin-film CIS modules for residential use while final arrangements are being made to begin commercial production of a new, innovative type of module, which has been developed at Solar Frontier's Atsugi Research Center. Based on a feasibility evaluation, production of the new module will start in the second half of this year.

Miyazaki No.2 Plant, which opened in 2009, provided the know-how that enabled Solar Frontier to open the Kunitomi Plant, Japan's largest solar module production plant. At the end of 2012, Solar Frontier temporarily halted the Miyazaki No.2 Plant, as it was able to streamline all production at the cutting-edge Kunitomi Plant. Now, Solar Frontier is restarting the Miyazaki No.2 Plant to meet growing demand for CIS thin-film modules.

Solar Frontier is Japan's only company specializing in the production and sale of "Made in Japan" solar modules. To provide customers with high-quality, high-performance CIS thin-film modules, Solar Frontier leverages highly integrated manufacturing processes in Miyazaki to manufacture modules from raw materials to the finished product. Solar Frontier continues to improve performance of mass produced CIS thin-film modules and provides high added value integrated solar energy systems.

About Solar Frontier
Solar Frontier K.K., a 100% subsidiary of Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. (TYO:5002) ("Solar Frontier"), has a mission to create the most economical, ecological solar energy solutions on Earth. Building on a legacy of work in solar energy since the 1970s, Solar Frontier today develops and manufactures CIS (denoting copper, indium, selenium) thin-film solar modules for customers in all sectors around the world. Solar Frontier's gigawatt-scale production facilities in Miyazaki, Japan, integrate compelling economical and ecological advantages into every module: from lower energy requirements in manufacturing to the higher overall output (kWh) of CIS in real operating conditions. Solar Frontier is headquartered in Tokyo, with offices in Europe, the U.S.A., and the Middle East. Visit www.solar-frontier.com for more information.