Government of Canada investment boosts development of
environmentally friendly solar power technology
TSE Symbol: ATA
OTTAWA, July 17 /CNW/ - Janko Peric, Member of Parliament for Cambridge,
on behalf of Industry Minister Allan Rock, Environment Minister David
Anderson, and Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal today announced a $29.5
million conditionally repayable Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC)/Climate
Change Action Fund (CCAF) investment in an ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
project. The initiative will advance the development of a unique technology
for the production of photovoltaic energy or solar power.
"Through this investment, the Government of Canada is clearly
demonstrating its firm commitment to supporting sustainable technologies that
produce both economic and environmental benefits," said Minister Rock. "This
shows how effectively Technology Partnerships Canada is building Canadian
innovation, and working with partners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
"The Climate Change Action Fund was established by the Government of
Canada to support projects that have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions as well as increase our understanding of climate change," said Karen
Redman, Parliamentary Secretary to Environment Minister David Anderson, and
Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre. "Projects like this one in the
field of solar energy represent steps towards decreasing harmful emissions and
providing cleaner air for all."
"The funding contribution of the CCAF's Technology Early Action Measures
is indicative of the Government of Canada's unified approach to a cleaner
environment," said Minister Dhaliwal. "The investment in this innovative
technology underscores our dedication to protecting the environment while
sustaining economic and social development."
"Technology Partnerships Canada investments are helping Canadian
businesses develop innovative products and processes that increase economic
growth, create high-quality jobs, and support sustainable development," said
Mr. Peric. "These investments support our longer term strategy and play a key
role in building a more innovative Canada."
Technology Partnerships Canada, a key element of Canada's Innovation
Strategy, invests strategically in research, development and innovation. By
encouraging private sector investment, the program not only spurs growth in
the technology base and technological capabilities of Canadian industry, but
also encourages the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises in all
regions of Canada. Technology Partnerships Canada's risk-sharing investments
are conditionally repayable, usually in the form of royalties based on company
sales.
The news release and other documents are available on the Technology
Partnerships Canada website at: http://tpc.ic.gc.ca.
BACKGROUNDER
Government of Canada Investment in ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., of Cambridge, Ontario will undertake
its final stage of development of a new form of solar energy technology made
up of thousands of tiny silicon spheres bonded in a flexible aluminum foil
matrix - referred to as Spheral Solar(TM) power.
Benefits of the Spheral Solar(TM) technology in comparison with
conventional photovoltaic cells are:
- lower manufacturing cost;
- product flexibility - foil sheets that can be formed in almost any
shape;
- abundant supply of raw materials - silica and alumina; and
- environmentally friendly - no heavy metals or toxic compounds.
ATS will work to develop the photovoltaic technology and a prototype
manufacturing line capable of producing 20MW of the solar products yearly.
This manufacturing line would be a fifth to a tenth the size of a commercial
factory.
Spheral Solar(TM) technology was originally developed by Texas
Instruments Inc. As an equipment supplier, ATS was a key member of the
research team. Through its subsidiary Matrix Solar Technologies, ATS acquired
the intellectual property and equipment related to this project. Since then,
ATS has developed an optical enhancement that will reduce manufacturing costs.
The current project will complete research related to the enhancement,
establish a new R&D centre for Spheral Solar(TM) technology; and design and
build the first prototype manufacturing system.
The Government of Canada's investment is composed of $25.5 million from
Technology Partnerships Canada and $4 million from the Technology Early Action
Measures (TEAM) component of the Climate Change Action Fund.
This investment is leveraging an additional $67 million spending by the
company in Canadian R&D. The project is expected to create 108 jobs during the
research and development phase, and 729 during the benefits phase - for a
total of 837 jobs. These will be primarily in the Cambridge, Ontario area.
ATS is the industry's leading designer and producer of turn-key standard
and custom automated manufacturing and test systems, which are used primarily
by multinational corporations operating in a variety of industries including:
computer/electronics and photonics, automotive, and consumer products. ATS
also makes precision components and sub-assemblies using its own custom-built
manufacturing systems, process knowledge and automation technology. ATS
employs approximately 3,200 people at 26 facilities in Canada, the United
States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. ATS is a publicly traded company on the TSE.
Release 8990-e
For further information: Selena Beattie, Office of Allan Rock, (613) 995-9001; Akim-Isabelle Thibouthot, Media Relations, Industry Canada, (613) 948-1552
© 2002 Canada Newswire Ltd.