Bekaert ECD (UniSolar) Systems Receives $1.5 Million Research Grant from CEC

source: press release 2002.1.29

United Solar Systems Corp. (United Solar), a joint venture between
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq: ENER - news) and N.V. Bekaert S.A. (Bekaert), announced today that
Bekaert ECD Solar System LLC (Bekaert ECD), its joint venture with Bekaert, has been awarded a cost-shared California
Energy Commission (CEC) contract. The contract was awarded under the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program to be
administered by Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD). The total project cost over a three-year period is $3.3 million of
which $1.5 million will be contributed by CEC.

The project goal is to develop and commercialize an inexpensive and quick- to-install building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV)
system that can be applied to a variety of roof decks. ``This grant will allow us to diversify our product in the rapidly expanding
BIPV market, and focuses on our goal of turning all roofs into electrical power generators,'' said Stanford Ovshinsky, Chairman
and CEO of United Solar, and President and CEO of ECD.

``We have already used UNI-SOLAR® products on metal decks of covered parking structure. We are excited about working
with Bekaert ECD to showcase the new products on different types of roofs in our territory,'' said Vince Schwendt, of SMUD.

``SMUD has been a pioneer in the application of photovoltaics on residential and commercial roofs, and we are very pleased to
work with them to introduce our existing and new BIPV products in the California market,'' said Subhendu Guha, President of
United Solar and Bekaert ECD.

United Solar is the world leader in thin-film amorphous photovoltaics. ECD and United Solar have pioneered, developed and hold basic patents covering the continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing of thin-film amorphous silicon alloy multi-junction solar cells and related products. United Solar and Bekaert ECD offer a revolutionary line of solar electric roofing panels, such as PV shingles and standing seam metal roofing, which are unique, flexible, lightweight and architecturally attractive. Other products include solar battery chargers, framed power modules and Uni-Kit(TM) Lighting Systems, which offer significant advantages over conventional solar panels in providing more energy-per-rated watt under normal outdoor conditions. United Solar's web site address is http://www.uni-solar.com .

Bekaert, the worldwide leading manufacturer of steel wire, steel wire products and steel cord, is also a fast-growing manufacturer
of advanced materials. Bekaert's market and technological leadership is based on metal forming and a wide range of coating
technologies. It is a worldwide company with over 70 production centers and a workforce of 17,000 people. Bekaert's web site
address is http://www.bekaert.com .

ECD is the leader in the synthesis of new materials and the development of advanced production technology and innovative products. It has pioneered and
developed enabling technologies leading to new products and production processes based on amorphous, disordered and related materials, with an emphasis on
advanced information technologies and alternative energy, including photovoltaics, fuel cells, hydride batteries and hydride storage materials capable of storing
hydrogen in the solid state for use as a feed stock for fuel cells or internal combustion engines or as an enhancement or replacement for any type of hydrocarbon fuel. ECD designs and builds manufacturing machinery that incorporates its proprietary production processes, maintains ongoing research and development programs to continually improve its products, and develops new applications for its technologies. ECD holds the basic patents in its fields. ECD's web site address is http://www.ovonic.com .