EDF Energies Nouvelles Places 3-Year Order to Buy Solar Modules from Photowatt
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CAMBRIDGE, ON, Oct. 15 - Photowatt International, the solar products manufacturing business of ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., today announced it has signed a three-year agreement to supply EDF Energies Nouvelles - a world-class player in the green electricity generation market and an affiliate of Electricit© de France - with refined metallurgical silicon solar modules.
The agreement stipulates that Photowatt will provide EDF Energies Nouvelles with 10 megawatts (MWs) of refined metallurgical silicon modules per annum from 2008 through to December 31, 2010, for a total of 30 MWs. In addition, EDF Energies Nouvelles has the option of ordering another 7.5 MW of refined metallurgical silicon products in 2008 and another 15 MWs per year in 2009 and 2010.
'This is the first multi-year order that Photowatt has secured for its refined metallurgical silicon products,'' said John K. Bell, ATS Chief Executive Officer. ''In this regard, it is a breakthrough and provides Photowatt with a high quality customer for a substantial portion of its annual output of metallurgical silicon modules. There is a high degree of trust between the parties and a commitment to work together to enjoy the benefits of power efficiency gains we can achieve.'
About EDF Energies Nouvelles
EDF Energies Nouvelles, a 50%-owned subsidiary of the EDF group (Electricit© de France), is a world-class player in the green energy generation market and renewable energies with gross installed capacity of 1,188 MW worldwide at June 30, 2007 (including net capacity of 868 MW). With a presence in 9 European countries and in the United States, EDF Energies Nouvelles operates in four renewable energy segments (solar, wind, biomass and hydro). Since November 2006, EDF Energies Nouvelles has been listed in Compartment A of the Eurolist by Euronext Paris (code: EEN, ISIN code: FR0010400143).
www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com.
About Photowatt
Photowatt is a 60 MW integrated designer, manufacturer and marketer of solar modules and installation kits used by customers throughout Europe and the United States. A pioneer in the photovoltaic industry, Photowatt has been developing and selling its well-recognized products since 1979. Its integrated ingot, wafer, cell and module production capabilities, silicon processing technologies, advanced wafer sawing techniques, established market positions, relationships with key distributors and installers and value-added design services, provide it with distinct competitive advantages in the growing global solar industry. Based near Lyon France, Photowatt employs approximately 700 people and its PW 1650 solar modules were recently ranked first place by Photon International in annual energy generated per watt peak installed.
(www.photowatt.com).
About ATS
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. 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 healthcare, computer/electronics, automotive and consumer products. It also leverages its many years of repetitive manufacturing experience and skills to fulfill the specialized repetitive equipment manufacturing requirements of customers. Through its Photowatt solar business, ATS participates in the growing solar energy industry and through its precision components business it produces, in high volume, precision components and subassemblies. ATS employs approximately 3,500 people at 24 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.
For further information: John K. Bell, ATS Chief Executive Officer, (519) 653-6500
