Arise Technologies (A3T.DE) announced that it is increasing by 56% its 2012 production target for photovoltaic (PV) cells at its new plant in Bischofswerda, Germany to 560MW. The company also plans to establish in Canada in 2011 a high-purity silicon plant that will ramp up to an output rate of 10,000 tons per year.
The new PV cell plant in Germany is on schedule to start manufacturing later this month and initially will use off-the-shelf technology to produce 35 megawatts (MW) of PV cells with an efficiency of more than 15%, the company said.
Arise’s wholly owned German subsidiary has signed a supply contract with OTB Solar B.V. of Eindhoven, the Netherlands under which OTB will design, deliver and commission manufacturing and handling equipment for a second production line at the Bischofswerda plant. The contract follows ARISE’s decision to move ahead with the second production line after it recently signed four additional silicon wafer supply agreements.
Arise expects that Line 2 will be in production in the 2009 first quarter, increasing the plant’s capacity to 80MW annually. The company expects that the cells produced on Line 2 will have an efficiency of up to 18% when the line is fully optimized.
The company now plans to install 10 additional production lines through 2012 with a step-by-step progression to more than 20% cell efficiency. The company previously had planned to have a total of eight production lines by 2012 with output capacity of 360MW.
Arise expects to proceed with establishing in 2011 a new silicon production plant in Canada that will ramp up to a capacity of 10,000 tons per year. The company has not selected a site for the plant. In the meanwhile, the company plans to expand the capacity of its planned silicon pilot plant operation in Waterloo, Ontario initially to a target rate of 50 tons per year in 2009 and then to a target rate of 400 tons per year in 2010.
Construction of the silicon pilot plant is scheduled to commence in 3Q08.
"The progress that we are making in Germany, our success in securing silicon wafer supply contracts, and the encouraging results to date from our high-purity silicon mini pilot production facility in Waterloo are all indications of the progress that ARISE is making toward achieving our goal to become a global leader in high-performance, cost-effective silicon technology," said Bart Tichelman, President and CEO.
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 Technology Division is developing a leading, high-efficiency photovoltaic cell based on proprietary technology. The division is completing construction of its first manufacturing plant, located in Bischofswerda, Germany and expects to begin shipping to PV module makers in April 2008. The PV Silicon Technology Division is focusing on improving PV cell efficiency to make the technology more cost-effective and is also working to reduce or eliminate supply constraints. The PV Systems Division provides complete turnkey PV solutions for solar farms and rooftop installations under the Ontario standard offer program.
Loading...