Andalay Solar has already designed cables and BOS mounting parts to integrate with Australia specific grid and rooftops.

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 6, 2015 -- From the designers of the first plug and play solar panel, Andalay Solar, Inc. (OTCQB: WEST), announced today that the Australian Patent and Trademark Office issued Patent No. 2008302718 for Andalay's core technology which includes its unique integrated mounting system for solar panels.

The patented attributes of the integrated solar system include:

* Providing for a low profile aesthetically pleasing solar system
* A module frame that substitutes for a rail that would otherwise need to have been installed on the roof
* Splices that both connect the solar modules as well as provide for mechanical rigidity and electrical grounding
* Minimal parts count for the solar installation
* Integrated wire management to enable easier and safe installations as well as minimize future electrical issues

"We are excited that Australia has now granted this patent on our core technology which complements the patents that we have received from the United States Patent & Trademark Office and governments in other key rooftop solar markets including Japan, Canada and China," said Steven Chan, President & CEO of Andalay Solar. "Our integrated solar product is a game-changer and has the potential to expand and penetrate beyond our current focus on the United States to one of the fastest growing solar markets like Australia with our now patent protected technology."

In addition, Andalay Solar has already designed cables and BOS mounting parts to integrate with Australia specific grid and rooftops. In Australia, the rooftop rafters run horizontally, whereas in the United States, the rooftop rafters run vertically. The cabling in Australia is typically three-wire scheme (50Hz) for residential homes where as in the United States the cabling is four-wire scheme (60Hz).

Andalay Solar products can be found at Amazon.com, Lowes.com and www.andalaysolar.com.

About Andalay Solar: (OTCQB:WEST)
Founded in 2001, the Company is a designer and manufacturer of integrated solar power systems. The Company has been a pioneer in the concept of integrating the racking, wiring and grounding directly into a solar panel. The Company's AC solar panel reduces the number of components for a rooftop solar installation by approximately 80% and lowers labor costs by approximately 50%. This AC panel, which won the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, has become the industry's most widely installed AC solar panel. The Company currently sells its new generation "Instant Connect®" products in both AC and DC format which provide the best combination of safety, performance and reliability. For more information on the Company, visit www.andalaysolar.com.