APD Air Products and Chemicals Inc

Work to Accelerate Commercialization of Clean Solar Energy LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) has been selected to receive more than $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under DOE's Solar Energy Technology Program. Air Products will use its expertise in etch and deposition science, gained from more than 35 years' experience in the global electronics industry, to develop materials that could potentially result in significant cost savings for thin-film photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers. The objective of the DOE program is to identify and accelerate the development of PV processes expected to improve the domestic solar market. Air Products' main focus will be on developing and validating an advanced radio frequency plasma chemical vapor deposition process. The project is among 24 new solar energy technology projects receiving $22 million in DOE funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. "Once developed and commercialized, these materials could be used by thin-film PV manufacturers, whose production is expected to exceed 5 GW in the coming years," said Jeff Handelman, Air Products' general manager, photovoltaics. "If 5 GW worth of thin-film silicon manufacturing were to adopt these additives and save more than $0.10 per watt, it would save the PV industry about $600 million annually." For more information on Air Products' broad range of gases, chemicals, equipment and services for PV manufacturing -- marketed under the SunSource(TM) trade name -- please visit http://www.airproducts.com/sunsource. Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products had fiscal 2008 revenues of $10.4 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 21,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com/. ***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations. DATASOURCE: Air Products CONTACT: Media Inquiries, Robert Brown, +1-610-481-1192, , or Investor Inquiries, Nelson Squires, +1-610-481-7461, , both of Air Products Web Site: http://www.airproducts.com/

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