Attention Business Editors:
ARISE Technologies Meets Fourth Milestone for its Silicon Feedstock Pilot Plant Project
WATERLOO, ON, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - ARISE Technologies Corporation (TSX: APV and
Frankfurt: A3T), which is dedicated to becoming a leader in high-performance,
cost-effective solar technology, today announced that it has met the fourth
major milestone for its Silicon Feedstock Pilot Plant Project.
"Achieving this latest milestone is yet another example of the ARISE
Silicon team's outstanding ability to execute on its plans. Our Silicon
program continues to gain momentum," said Bart Tichelman, President and Chief
Executive Officer.
"We have completed all the engineering planning required for the new
68,000-square-foot Pilot Plant in Kitchener, Ontario. The retrofitting of the
existing building to suit our needs is underway and on schedule. As previously
announced, we are planning that the Pilot Plant will have a production
capacity of 50 tonnes per year in 2009 and a further expansion to 400 tonnes
per year is expected by 2010," Mr. Tichelman stated.
"It's important to recognize the tremendous contribution to our silicon
program that EBNER Industrieofenbau G.m.b.H., the manufacturer of our Silicon
Refining Furnace version 4 (SiRF(TM) 4) has made and continues to make. It is
set for delivery to our plant in the 2009 first quarter. Our valued
partnership with Ebner has enabled us to maintain a very rapid pace of
development along the pathway to get our proprietary process to market.
Ebner's design and manufacturing engineering expertise are among the best in
class," Mr. Tichelman remarked.
"The engineering design, procurement, and fabrication for the first
SiRF(TM) 4 furnace are complete and we are very pleased with the results of
the initial runs. We expect to use SiRF(TM) 4 equipment in our
400-tonnes-per-year facility, planned for 2010," reported Jeff Dawkins,
Vice-President and General Manager, PV Silicon Division.
Meeting the fourth milestone included completing the initial construction
phase of the Pilot Plant and the successful completion and operation of a
Pilot Plant scale furnace. The company met its first milestone of the project
with the August 2007 commissioning of the Silicon Refining Furnace version 3.1
(SiRF(TM) 3.1). ARISE met its second milestone when the Mini Pilot Plant
became operational in December 2007, successfully producing polysilicon. The
company met its third milestone in May 2008 when ARISE achieved specific
objectives at its Mini Pilot Plant with respect to process economics,
scalability, and quality.
ARISE's silicon feedstock development project is being partially funded
by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). The project is developing
a new approach being used for refining high-purity silicon needed for
high-efficiency PV (photovoltaic) cells. The proprietary process that ARISE is
developing is intended to produce 7N+ high-purity (99.99999 percent) silicon
for PV applications using a simplified chemical vapor deposition process.
ARISE believes that its ability to produce 7N+ high-purity silicon will enable
it to meet its target of more than 20 percent efficiency for PV cells.
SDTC is funding about one-third of the eligible project costs up to $6.4
million, payable in tranches as ARISE meets specified milestones. SDTC's
funding of the project is leveraged by an additional $13.2 million committed
by a consortium led by ARISE.
About ARISE Technologies
ARISE Technologies Corporation, based in Waterloo, Ontario, is dedicated
to becoming a leader in high-performance, cost-effective solar technology.
The company operates through three divisions. The PV Cell Division
manufactures PV (photovoltaic) cells at its first manufacturing plant opened
in April 2008 in Bischofswerda, Germany. The division is developing
proprietary technology with a target of achieving a step-by-step progression
to a high-efficiency level of greater than 20 percent. The PV Silicon Division
is using a proprietary method to produce silicon at 7N+ high-purity (99.99999
percent) for PV applications, based on a simplified chemical vapour deposition
process. The division is focusing on scaling up its process to provide ARISE
with control over its supply, costs, and quality. The PV Systems Division
provides complete turnkey PV solutions for solar farms and rooftop
installations under the Ontario Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.
The company's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
symbol APV and on the Frankfurt Open Market Exchange under the symbol A3T.
Additional information is available at www.arisetech.com and www.sedar.com.
About EBNER Industrieofenbau G.m.b.H.
EBNER is one of the leading manufacturers worldwide of heat treatment
facilities for the steel, copper, and aluminum semi-finished products
industries. They manufacture continuous and batch-type furnaces featuring
cutting-edge technology that deliver maximum performance and optimum anneal
results. EBNER facilities are among the most reliable, economical, and
environmentally superior. Further information is available at www.ebner.cc.
About Sustainable Development Technology Canada
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is an arm's-length
foundation, which has received $1.05 billion from the Government of Canada as
part of its commitment to create a healthy environment and a high quality of
life for all Canadians. SDTC operates two funds aimed at the development and
demonstration of innovative technological solutions. The $550 million SD Tech
Fund(TM) supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean
water, and clean soil. The $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund(TM) supports the
establishment of first-of-kind, large-demonstration-scale facilities for the
production of next-generation renewable fuels. SDTC operates as a
not-for-profit corporation and has been working with the public and private
sector including industry, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
the financial community, and all levels of government to achieve this mandate.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release may be considered to be
forward-looking. Such statements are based on management's current
expectations, estimations, and assumptions based on experience, trends, and
other factors that are subject to the significant risks and uncertainties
described in our regulatory filings. Please refer to these. Such risks and
uncertainties may include, but are not limited to, the effects of general
economic conditions, changing foreign exchange rates, actions by government
authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations,
industry supply levels, competitive pricing pressures and misjudgments in the
course of preparing forward-looking statements. ARISE assumes no obligation to
update any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual
results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.
%SEDAR: 00017494E
For further information: ARISE Technologies Corporation: 65 Northland
Road, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2V 1Y8, Dave Chornaby, Chief Financial
Officer, (519) 772-5732, Dave.Chornaby@arisetech.com, www
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