Silicon Energy, an innovative US manufacturer of high durability, double-glass photovoltaic (PV) modules is proud to announce that it has won the Best in Solar and Wind for the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) 2013 Later Stage Award. The GCCA’s Global Top 10 Winners represent the best of the association's nearly 50 member clusters and over 10,000 member companies. The GCCA Global Top 10 Winners were selected by 22 cleantech venture capital and private equity investors and serial entrepreneurs, who collectively manage over $3.5 billion in global clean technology investment. This year’s awards were organized by the Finnish Cleantech Cluster.

1. Silicon Energy Wins Global Cleantech Cluster Association 2013
Later Stage Award
For cleantech success in Best in Solar and Wind, Silicon Energy honored at
Corporate Cleantech Venture Day in Lahti, Finland
Marysville, Washington, November 21, 2013 – Silicon Energy, an innovative US
manufacturer of high durability, double-glass photovoltaic (PV) modules is proud to
announce that it has won the Best in Solar and Wind for the Global Cleantech Cluster
Association (GCCA) 2013 Later Stage Award. The GCCA’s Global Top 10 Winners
represent the best of the association's nearly 50 member clusters and over 10,000
member companies. The GCCA Global Top 10 Winners were selected by 22 cleantech
venture capital and private equity investors and serial entrepreneurs, who collectively
manage over $3.5 billion in global clean technology investment. This year’s awards
were organized by the Finnish Cleantech Cluster.
Seattle's Aquarium selected Silicon Energy for its 49.4kW installation
due to the Cascade module's unique durability, safety and aesthetics
in a challenging marine environment.
The 2013 Global Top 10 award reflects Silicon Energy’s cleantech success and market
position as a Best in Solar and Wind company in the $163.1 billion global cleantech
industry. It also indicates Silicon Energy’s unique innovations are making a positive
contribution to the green economy.

2. “Economic research demonstrates clusters are critical for regions fostering their
technology centers, and they are paramount to the success building green economies,”
said Nina Harjula, GCCA Co-Founder and Finnish Cleantech Cluster Manager “The
2013 winners are both successful technically, strategically and regionally. It is an honor
to highlight them and we wish them continued to success.”
Silicon Energy was nominated for the GCCA Later Stage Award by the Washington
Clean Technology Alliance in May 2013 for addressing the solar industry’s quality and
durability issues by manufacturing the Cascade, an innovative double-glass, openframe photovoltaic (PV) module balancing beauty, safety and quality with long-term
durability. The Global Top 10 were selected out of the 10,000 companies represented
by the GCCA’s nearly 50 member clusters. In total, 160 companies were nominated by
clusters as leading in their regions. That number was later narrowed to the Global Top
30 Semi-Finalists using the Keystone Method™, a business and venture development
tool developed by GCCA Head Judge Dr. Peter Adriaens and CleanTech Acceleration
Partners at the University of Michigan.
Silicon Energy’s Cascade PV module and mounting system fully encloses all system
wiring. Silicon Energy uses an advanced encapsulant resulting in a Class-A Fire Safety
rating and a Potential-Induced degradation (PID) free module. In National Renewable
Energy Laboratory “Test-to-Failure” testing, the Cascade outperformed standard PV
modules. Silicon Energy offers an industry leading 30-year power warranty and is
uniquely positioned for PV-Integrated applications.
“It is a great honor to win GCCA’s Best in Solar and Wind award,” stated Silicon
Energy’s President, Gary Shaver. “Silicon Energy is focused on bringing innovative PV
products and solutions that combine beauty and functionality. GCCA’s recognition
further emboldens us to continue innovating beyond the present commodity-focused
state of the PV industry and look to a future where PV is a more attractive and
functional part of our built environment.”
A full list of all the GCCA Later Stage Award 2013 Global Top 10 Finalists can be found
at: http://www.globalcleantech.org/2013-winners/.

3. About Silicon Energy
Founded in 2007, Silicon Energy delivers the highest quality and most durable
photovoltaic (PV) modules on the market today, backed by one of the best warranties in
the world. Located in Washington and Minnesota, Silicon Energy’s sustainable
approach to doing business offers customers a world-class, locally manufactured and
environmentally-friendly solar PV product. The company’s philosophy of supporting the
local and US economy and its commitment to creating long-lasting, aesthetically
pleasing PV allows customers to be confident that while they are reducing their carbon
footprint they are also contributing to their local economy. Silicon Energy PV Systems
are available through select partners for home, commercial, government, and utility
installations. For more information about Silicon Energy, please visit www.siliconenergy.com or call (360) 618-6500 or (218)-789-1710.
About the Global Cleantech Cluster Association
Global Cleantech is a non-profit association, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
that creates conduits for companies to harness the tremendous benefits of international
cleantech cluster collaboration in an efficient, affordable, and structured way. Global
Cleantech provides a gateway for established and emerging cleantech companies
to gain exposure to potential investors, new markets, influential networks, innovative
technologies and best practices. GCCA was founded by the Finnish Cleantech Cluster,
swisscleantech, Technica Communications and Watershed Capital Group. For more
information about Global Cleantech, please visit www.globalcleantech.org.
For Media Inquiries
Silicon Energy
Stu Frothingham, Marketing and Communications
360-618-6500, sfrothingham@silicon-energy.com