MERRIMACK, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR), a global provider of specialized production equipment, process technology and turnkey manufacturing services for the solar power industry, today announced that it has signed contracts in excess of $40 million with two wholly owned subsidiaries of China-based GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited (“GCL-Poly”). The first agreement, with Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development Co., Ltd., is for GT Solar’s best-in-class Trichlorosilane (TCS) Production Technology Solution. The second, with Jiangsu GCL Silicon Material Technology Development Co. Ltd., is for GT Solar’s market-leading Directional Solidification System (DSS) furnaces and ancillary equipment. These contracts represent the first purchases of GT Solar equipment and services by GCL-Poly and its subsidiaries.

GT Solar’s TCS Production Solution includes all of the technology and basic engineering services required to produce TCS, one of the primary raw materials used to manufacture polysilicon. GT Solar’s DSS furnaces are used to melt polysilicon and grow multi-crystalline ingots, which are utilized to produce solar wafers and, ultimately, solar cells.

“GCL-Poly is committed to providing high-quality and cost-competitive solar raw materials by adopting the best-in-class technologies and equipment,” said Mr. Zhu Gong Shan, executive director, chairman and chief executive officer of GCL-Poly. “We chose to purchase the TCS Production Solution and DSS units from GT Solar because of their proven expertise in both polysilicon production and ingot crystallization. GT Solar’s TCS production solution should help to improve the quality and lower the cost of our polysilicon operations. Their expected timely delivery of the DSS furnaces should help to ensure that our new ingot and wafer production facility can be up-and-running in 2010.”

“We are pleased to welcome GCL-Poly as a new GT Solar customer for both our polysilicon and photovoltaic equipment businesses,” said Tom Gutierrez, GT Solar’s president and chief executive officer. “Our relationship with GCL-Poly further strengthens our market position in China and reinforces our role as a technology leader. We believe GT Solar’s DSS furnaces are the system of choice for leading PV manufacturers around the world. And, our TCS Production Technology Solution represents another win for this leading technology that should help to significantly lower the production cost of polysilicon.”

About GT Solar International, Inc.

GT Solar International, Inc., based in Merrimack, NH, USA, is a leading global provider of specialized production equipment, process technology and turnkey manufacturing services for the solar power industry. The company's products and services allow its customers to optimize their manufacturing environments and lower their cost of ownership, accelerating the drive towards grid parity. For additional information about GT Solar, please visit www.gtsolar.com.

About GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited*

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited is China’s largest and one of the world's leading polysilicon suppliers and also a top green energy enterprise in China with extensive operation and management experience. Annual polysilicon production capacity of GCL Solar, a subsidiary of the Group, reached 18,000 MT at the end of 2009 and is expected to reach 21,000 MT by the end of 2010. GCL Solar has also started constructing wafer production facilities and targets to achieve 1GW of capacity by mid-2010. In addition, the Group controls and invests in a total of 18 cogeneration power plants, one incineration power plant and one wind power plant. Most of these plants are located in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in China with strong economic growth and robust demand for electricity and steam. All these plants are advocated and encouraged by the Chinese government. For more information about GCL-Poly, please visit the company’s website at www.gcl-poly.com.hk.

*Source: GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited. GT Solar takes no responsibility for the accuracy of this description.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking in nature, including statements regarding the $40 million combined total value of GT Solar’s new contracts with GCL-Poly. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside GT Solar’s control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. Factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements include the possibility that GCL-Poly may not perform its obligations under its contracts with GT Solar, and various other risks as outlined in GT Solar International, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the statements under the heading “Risk Factors” in GT Solar’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal 2009 filed on June 9, 2009 and Form 10-Q for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 filed on November 10, 2009. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. GT Solar International, Inc. is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.