By Kari Williamson

Yingli Americas' 2012 agreement with GRID Alternatives builds on a 1 MW partnership launched in 2011 that brought solar power to over 400 low-income homeowners across California, saving them an estimated US$11 million over the systems' lifetimes.

"Listening to the stories of these families and job seekers that we've helped and participated alongside has been remarkable, and we are excited to be expanding the programme even further this year," says Helena Kimball, Head of Marketing, Yingli Americas.

"Renewable energy is inherently about helping people who need energy most, and with more than 800 disadvantaged families powered by the end of this year, we've gone beyond what we imagined possible at the onset of this programme."

As an official solar module provider for GRID Alternatives, Yingli Americas will be supplying another 1 MW of solar energy this year through a combination of donated and fair-market priced solar modules.