United Solar Ovonics (USO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD), announced the major contribution for 4MW building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system on the roof-tops of the Marcegaglia Group's industrial plant in Taranto. The system will be mostly equipped with UNI-SOLAR innovative flexible light weight photovoltaic modules. The project, one of the largest innovative technology roof-top systems in Italy, is scheduled to start operating in 2010.

The installation features Marcegaglia's Brollo Solar photovoltaic roofing system. This roofing system is formed by UNI-SOLAR laminates being directly applied to corrugated sheets or insulating panels to form a light weight BIPV roofing solution.

Once fully operational, the complete system - owned 51% by Enel Green Power and 49% by Marcegaglia Group - will be able to produce over 5 million kWh annually, enough to meet the energy needs of approximately 1,900 households, thereby avoiding the atmospheric emission of some 4,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Mark Morelli, ECD's president and CEO, said, "We are pleased to again be working with Marcegaglia on another BIPV project. This installation in Taranto is another excellent example of a successful BIPV application of our UNI-SOLAR laminates. Because UNI-SOLAR laminates are thin, light weight and flexible, they were the ideal choice for this installation which called for the PV system to be fully integrated into the existing architecture. We look forward to developing many more projects of this type in the future."