Yingli Green Energy Goes Beyond Targets for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

BAODING, China, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited YGE ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company"), a leading solar panel manufacturer in the world, known as "Yingli Solar," today announced that the Company gone beyond its targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by the end of 2013 as part of its membership commitments in the World Wide Fun for Nature ("WWF") Climate Savers program, according to internal inspections report.

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Initiated by WWF in 1999, Climate Savers is a global leadership platform which positions multinational corporations at the forefront of the low-carbon economy. In May 2011, Yingli and WWF signed the Letter of Intent to join the Climate Savers program. After assessment of energy consumption and consultation, the Company set its industry-leading goals for GHG reductions through 2015, based on its GHG emissions level in 2010.

In January 2013, Yingli officially became the first Chinese company and the first PV manufacturer to join the Climate Savers program. In May 2014, the Company began internal inspections to ensure it met its aggressive emission reduction targets. Using 2010 GHG emissions as a baseline, the inspection results demonstrated that Yingli:

• Decreased its GHG emissions intensity per MW of PV module production by approximately 22% in 2013, as compared to its initial target to reduce emissions intensity by 13% by the end of 2015;
• Decreased GHG emissions from purchased goods and services per MW of PV modules production by approximately 12%, as compared to its initial target to reduce emissions by 7%;
• Decreased its GHG emissions from upstream transportation by approximately 17%, as compared to its initial target to reduce emissions by 10%.

In addition, the Company has actively invested in PV power projects and installed solar power systems to power its PV module manufacturing facilities, including the plants in Baoding Headquarters, Tianjin, and Hengshui, parking lot, as well as other buildings,  in order to increase the share of renewable electricity in its total power consumption. By the end of 2013, PV projects Yingli has invested in are estimated to generate approximately 167.85 GWh of clean electricity annually and the solar energy systems installed on its facilities could generate 39.3 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to 4.05% of its total power consumption in 2013. As part of its membership in Climate Savers initiatives, Yingli also targeted for renewable energy to account for at least 4% of the total energy comsuption in the production of its PV modules by the end of 2015.

To achieve these results, the Yingli worked with TUV to establish its GHG Managing System as a platform to monitor and control GHG emissions and energy consumption across all of its operations. Yingli also improved energy utilization throughout its entire production chain and launched "Green Supplier Action" program, which requires its leading suppliers to adopt ambitious energy efficiency and GHG reduction commitments, and made energy consumption levels and GHG emissions important criteria in supplies qualification.In addition, Yingli developed an comprehensive multi-year plan related specifically to logistics in order to reduce GHG emissions during the transportation of PV modules and raw materials.

As one of the leaders of the PV industry, Yingli also joined hands with the China National Institute of Standardization, along with other leading PV companies, to compile The Cleaner Production Evaluation Indicator System of Photovoltaic Solar Cells. Our goal is to promote green production methods across the entire PV industry, with the goal of increasing the competitiveness of China's PV industry.

"As the first member company of WWF Climate Savers Programme in China, Yingli has successfully gone beyond its emission reduction targetss, and shows its leadership through practical actions. WWF will continue to partner with Chinese companies to address climate change, and to promote more companies to be leaders of the low- carbon economy," said Ms. Winnie Lu, Climate & Energy Program Director of WWF.

 "We are pleased  to cooperate with WWF and showcase our commitments to the sustainable development and progresses in reducing our  GHG emissions through the global leadership platform, as reducing our own environmental impact is one of our most important corporate objectives. As a leading global renewable energy company, Yingli is dedicated to the pursuit of green, low-carbon manufacturing and business operations while providing clean energy for all," commented Mr. Jingfeng Xiong, Vice President and Chief Climate Officer of Yingli Green Energy.

About Yingli Green Energy

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited YGE, known as "Yingli Solar," is a world's leading solar panel manufacturer. Yingli Green Energy's manufacturing covers the photovoltaic value chain from ingot casting and wafering through solar cell production and solar panel assembly. Headquartered in Baoding, China, Yingli Green Energy has more than 30 regional subsidiaries and branch offices and has distributed more than 10 GW solar panels to customers worldwide. For more information, please visit www.yinglisolar.com and join the conversation onFacebook, Twitter and Weibo.

About World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF)

WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation oganizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable,  and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Yingli Green Energy's control, which may cause Yingli Green Energy's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Yingli Green Energy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Yingli Green Energy does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

For further information, please contact:

In China

Qing Miao
Vice President of Corporate Communications
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited
Tel: +86 312 8929787
E-mail: ir@yingli.com

In the Americas:

Helena Kimball
Head of Marketing
Yingli Green Energy Americas Inc.
Tel: +1-603-591-5812
Email: helena.kimball@yingliamericas.com

In Europe:

Carolin Staehler
Sponsorship and Events Manager Europe
Yingli Green Energy Europe GmbH
Tel: +49 (0) 89 411 123 45
Email: carolin.staehler@ygee.eu

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SOURCE Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited