The four representatives stated that solar technology is already a cost-effective alternative for generating electricity and countries world-wide should immediately revise energy development plans to include a higher proportion of this clean and sustainable energy source: "Solar technology is no longer a niche energy solution, but is already reaching the scale and cost points to fundamentally change the way we generate electricity. As a result of substantial investments over the past 5 years, the solar industry has dramatically improved solar technologies and established roadmaps for further cost reductions. In fact, electricity generated from solar installations is already reaching parity with peak energy and retail energy prices in many regions."

"Now is the time for world leaders, businesses and communities to build the platform for solar to be adopted on a much greater scale. This will not only improve energy autonomy, but also serve to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deliver an economically viable solution to climate change. We believe that the global climate change deal agreed to in Copenhagen at the end of 2009 should include concrete targets and policies for a rapid transition to solar in the coming decades."

The group encouraged the adoption of a set of major climate and energy policies to enable solar to make a significant contribution toward GHG- reduction and economic-development goals, including:

+ Stringent, ambitious, international and national carbon regulation policies;

+ Enforceable renewables mandates with a solar carve out or credit multiplier for solar energy;

+ Near-term incentives that could include feed-in tariffs, partial rebates, tax credits and/or property-based loans;

+ And favorable net metering, interconnection, permitting and land-use policies.

Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Chairman and CEO of Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd, said: "At Suntech Power we are dedicated to reducing the cost of solar electricity to grid parity through increasing economies of scale, improving efficient utilization of raw materials such as silicon, and developing more advanced technology and new applications. We believe that clean technology can help us to combat climate change and simultaneously become a significant driver for new economic development."

He continued: "Setting addressable renewable energy targets, and specifically solar targets, is central to developing a stable market and motivating continuous investment. China has set ambitious, long-term national goals that have helped to create a backdrop for a growing renewable energy industry such as a national renewable energy standard of 15% by 2020; a commitment to invest USD180 billion in renewable energy by 2020; and aggressive energy efficiency standards for buildings. At the same time, China has incubated many solar companies, such as Suntech, and is now the third- largest source of solar PV products for the global market."

Jeremy Leggett, Executive Chairman of Solarcentury, said: "As a European leader in building-integrated solar, Solarcentury expects to see buildings routinely becoming power plants in the years ahead, generating all their own electricity and heating needs in situ, and often more than they need, making them net exporters of energy. With the right partners in the construction industry, we can put up zero-emissions buildings in a matter of weeks: not the years that conventional power plants require. We are seeing some excellent progress with European support, particularly with the incentive of strong feed-in tariffs, but we need very much more."

He continued: "When you consider that in Europe around half of all emissions come from buildings, directly and indirectly, you get a sense of how excited we are about our industry's ability to contribute in the fight against global warming. Solarcentury will be publishing a book next year presenting a vision of the future, and mapping the emerging solar revolution. We are calling it "The Solar Century," because that is what the twenty-first century has to be. We're proud to be doing this from the UK, not traditionally seen as the hub of solar power innovation. The future can be bright if governments understand the opportunities and help unleash the potential of solar."

Mike Ahearn, Chairman and CEO of First Solar, said: "The photovoltaic industry is much closer to generating affordable solar power than most people realize. In the last 4 years, First Solar has lowered the cost of manufacturing our modules by two-thirds and the company is now the world's largest manufacturer of thin film photovoltaic solar modules. Looking ahead to the next 2-4 years, First Solar will be in a position to produce power from the sun at costs competitive with conventional electricity generated from fossil fuels, paving the way for a large-scale transition to the cleaner energies we need to prevent irreversible damage to our planet."

He continued: "Led by California and New Jersey, over half of the states in the U.S. have adopted renewable portfolio standards, which together with favorable tax incentives and other policies, has emerged as an important driver in increasing solar power generation. President-elect Obama throughout his campaign and transition has consistently championed the imperative of enacting a new set of federal policies to enable a sustainable U.S. renewable energy industry. While acknowledging how quickly and how far solar technology and solar costs have improved, much work remains and we call on world leaders assembled in Poznan to adopt policies individually and collectively that allow PV to demonstrate its full potential."

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland is a key step on the road to establishing an effective global response to climate change at Copenhagen in December 2009.

The conference, which runs from December 1 to December 12, 2008, is expected to host close to eleven thousand participants, including delegates from 186 Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) and representatives from business and industry, environmental organizations and research institutions.

The Parties to the UNFCC are expected to agree on a plan of action for the final year of negotiations about the commitments which will be undertaken in the Copenhagen agreement in 2009.

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