Q-Cells and ATS Partner to Accelerate Solar Growth in Ontario
September 16 2010 - 5:00PM
PR Newswire (Canada)
CAMBRIDGE, ON, and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ -- Market Leaders
Partner to Deliver 10 Percent of the FIT Ground Mounted Solar
Projects in Ontario CAMBRIDGE, ON, and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16
/CNW/ - Q-Cells SE, one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) companies
in the world providing solar power plants, modules and cells, and
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (TSX: ATA), a leading global
provider of innovative, custom designed, turnkey manufacturing
solutions, and through Photowatt, an integrated manufacturer and
developer of solar systems, today confirmed that they have
established a joint venture for the development of large scale
renewable energy projects in Ontario. ATS and Q-Cells each hold a
50 percent interest in the project development company Ontario
Solar PV Fields Inc., which received conditional Feed-In-Tariff
(FIT) contracts from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) in April for
seven Ontario ground mounted projects totaling 64 megawatts (MW).
The projects represent approximately 10 percent of the 650 MW of
ground mounted solar projects awarded throughout the province and
are expected to begin construction in 2011 and beyond. ATS and
Q-Cells will both contribute project development,
engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) and related services to
the venture. The partnership will utilize domestic content modules
supplied by Photowatt Ontario with Q-Cells solar cells. "We are
very pleased to have combined the capabilities of two proven global
solar companies to quickly serve the rapidly developing solar
opportunities in the Ontario market," said Martin Cecchetto, ATS
Vice President, Corporate Development. "Together we offer a
compelling, fully integrated solution and track record to potential
developer and financial partners that will make widespread solar
adoption in Ontario a reality and significantly expand the solar
expertise and presence in the Province." The partnership will draw
on ATS's significant local solar expertise as an Ontario
headquartered company that provides automation services globally to
many top-tier solar companies and parent of Photowatt, a fully
integrated solar supplier with a 30 year track record. The Q-Cells
Group is one of the world's leading photovoltaic companies and
global solar integrator with project experience in Ontario. "The
Ontario market is projected to be one of the dominant solar markets
in North America in 2011," said Marc van Gerven, Q-Cells North
American Chief Executive Officer. "This partnership is an excellent
fit with our internationalization strategy by bringing together the
global solar expertise of Q-Cells with leading local partners in
the industry such as ATS". For more information on Ontario Solar PV
Fields, please visit www.ontariosolarpvfields.com The conditional
Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) contracts from the Ontario Power Authority
(OPA) are one step in the overall FIT program. Details of the
Ontario FIT Program and process are available at the OPA web site:
www.powerauthority.on.ca. About ATS ATS Automation provides
innovative, custom designed, built and installed manufacturing
solutions to many of the world's most successful companies. Founded
in 1978, ATS uses its industry-leading knowledge and global
capabilities to serve the sophisticated automation systems' needs
of multinational customers in industries such as life sciences,
computer/electronics, energy, automotive and consumer products. It
also leverages its many years of experience and skills to fulfill
the specialized automation product manufacturing requirements of
customers. Through Photowatt, ATS participates in the growing solar
energy industry. ATS employs approximately 2,700 people at 17
manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States, Europe,
Southeast Asia and China. The Company's shares are traded on the
Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ATA. Visit the Company's
website at www.atsautomation.com. About Photowatt Photowatt is a
turnkey solar project developer and integrated manufacturer.
Photowatt designs, manufactures and sells solar modules, and
installation kits, and provides solar power systems design and
other value-added services, principally in Western Europe and
Ontario. Photowatt has a well-established and ongoing research and
development program, alliances with energy industry leaders through
the PV Alliance joint venture, and 30 years of experience in
processing silicon and making ingots, wafers, cells and modules.
Photowatt Ontario has been established as part of the Photowatt
group to serve the Ontario solar market. Combined with ATS, it is
uniquely positioned, with over one million square feet of
Ontario-based manufacturing, more than 900 local employees,
substantial automation and project expertise and extensive global
solar capabilities and experience to be a natural domestic solar
market leader. Visit the Photowatt website at www.photowatt.com and
the Photowatt Ontario website at www.photowattontario.com About
Q-Cells The Q-Cells Group is one of the world's leading
photovoltaic companies. Its extensive product portfolio ranges from
solar cells and modules right up to complete photovoltaic systems.
Q-Cells develops and manufactures its products at its Group
headquarters in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany and markets these via a
global distribution network. A second production facility is
located in Malaysia. At Q-Cells, over 200 scientists and engineers
are working on rapidly enhancing the technology in order to achieve
the company's aim: reducing the costs of photovoltaics quickly and
permanently, and making the technology competitive. The close
intermeshing of research, development and production allows Q-Cells
to put innovations into mass production in the quickest possible
time and thus to assume a top technological position in the
photovoltaic industry. Q-Cells SE is listed on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange (QCE, ISIN DE0005558662) and in the German technology
index TecDAX. Visit the Company's website at www.q-cells.com. Note
to Readers: Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains
certain statements that constitute forward-looking information
within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking
statements"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of ATS, or developments
in ATS's business or in its industry, to differ materially from the
anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding
possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based
on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of
action. Forward-looking statements may also include, without
limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or
circumstances. ATS cautions you not to place undue reliance upon
any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date they are made. Forward-looking statements relate to, among
other things: the development of large scale renewable energy
projects in Ontario; the receipt of conditional FIT contracts from
the OPA for seven Ontario ground mounted projects totalling 64 MW;
expected timing of commencement of construction; contribution by
ATS and Q-Cells of project development, EPC and related services;
utilization of domestic content modules supplied by Photowatt
Ontario with Q-Cells solar cells; and the projected size of the
Ontario solar market in 2011. The risks and uncertainties that may
affect forward-looking statements include, among others: general
market performance including capital market conditions and
availability and cost of credit; economic market conditions; third
party or internal delays in the construction of the Photowatt
Ontario module line; the ability of ATS and/or Photowatt Ontario to
source materials and resources required to allow supply of domestic
content modules as planed; unanticipated impediments to
contributions by ATS or Q-Cells of planned project development, EPC
and related services; ability to secure project financing and
buyers for the projects; ability to connect projects to the power
grid on a cost effective basis; ability to obtain necessary
government and other consents, certifications and approvals for
solar projects and products in a timely manner or at all; potential
for political, labour or supplier disruptions; unfavourable
adjustments to the Ontario FIT program; and other risks detailed
from time to time in ATS's filings with Canadian provincial
securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are based on
management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and
opinions, and, except as required by applicable securities laws,
ATS does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking
statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates,
projections, beliefs and opinions change. %SEDAR: 00002017E ATS
Automation, Martin Cecchetto, Vice President Corporate Development,
TEL (+1) 519 653 4483; Q-Cells North America, Jamie Kvittem, TEL
(+1) 510 388 5557, j.kvittem@q-cells.com; Q-Cells SE, OT Thalheim,
Sonnenallee 17 - 21, 06766 Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany; Q-Cells
Corporate Communications: Ina von Spies, Tel.: +49 - (0)3494 - 6699
10121, presse@q-cells.com; Q-Cells Investor Relations: Stefan
Lissner, Tel.: +49 - (0)3494 - 6699 10101, investor@q-cells.com
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