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Gold/Mining/Energy : Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: NOREG who wrote (5)9/25/2007 4:43:28 PM
From: Skywatcher  Respond to of 23
 
what a week!.......wooooohooooooooo
ASTIZ's are going bezerk and 4 years left!....this might be one to convert to if they continue going gangbusters....
sold another 1/3 position yesterday in ASTIZ's at almost 7.50
glad I didn't panic yesterday when they went below 6
this is something



To: NOREG who wrote (5)9/25/2007 4:54:58 PM
From: Skywatcher  Respond to of 23
 
time for a catch up on the NEWS from this great little company



To: NOREG who wrote (5)9/25/2007 4:55:16 PM
From: Skywatcher  Respond to of 23
 
Ascent Solar Raises over $20 Million from Warrant Conversion
Monday July 9, 6:00 am ET

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI - News; BSX:ASTI), a developer of state-of-the-art, thin-film photovoltaic modules, announced today that it has received over $20 million as a result of the conversion of Class A public warrants and that it has achieved significant pre-manufacturing milestones.

Ascent Solar President and CEO Matthew Foster stated, "The additional capital received as a result of the Class A public warrant conversion and our partnership with Norsk Hydro (NYSE:NHY - News) have enabled us to achieve significant milestones ahead of plan. We are currently conducting pre-manufacturing testing on our roll-to-roll rapid prototyping tools in order to baseline the PV manufacturing processes. This is in preparation for the commencement of manufacturing operations on the 1.5 megawatt (MW) pilot production plant scheduled for completion by year end. The additional capital received will support construction of the first of four 25 MW scale production lines, the first of which is planned for completion in 2009. Our pathway to the market with large volume production has been greatly enhanced and will be strengthened further once we complete qualification of our pilot production plant."

Dr. Prem Nath, Senior VP of Manufacturing, stated, "By processing approximately one hundred feet each week in our roll-to-roll rapid prototyping tools, we have systematically proven out the entire end-to-end manufacturing deposition process. We believe that we can achieve repeatable and controllable processes that yield excellent uniformity. We now intend to focus on deposition process optimization and the remaining module patterning and encapsulation areas as we prepare for the staged delivery of our pilot plant production tools beginning in September 2007."

Ascent Solar employs a Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenium (CIGS) compound to produce thin-film photovoltaic modules on plastic substrates. The CIGS in combination with other thin metal layers are deposited sequentially on top of one another using roll-to-roll manufacturing tools to achieve the photovoltaic affect. The total thickness of the deposited layers is less than that of a single human hair.



To: NOREG who wrote (5)9/25/2007 4:55:57 PM
From: Skywatcher  Respond to of 23
 
our PARTNER!
Hydro Makes Follow on Investment in Ascent Solar
Thursday August 16, 4:01 pm ET

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI - News; BSX:ASTI), a developer of state-of-the-art, thin-film photovoltaic modules, announced today that Hydro ASA (NYSE:NHY - News) acquired an additional 934,462 shares of Ascent Solar common stock and 1,965,690 Class B warrants through the exercise of an option previously granted to Hydro and approved by Ascent Solar's shareholders in June 2007. Gross proceeds to the company from the follow on investment are $10.48 million, and reflect per share and per warrant purchase prices equal to the average of the closing bids of each security, as reported by Nasdaq, for the five consecutive trading days preceding exercise.

By acquiring these additional shares, Hydro again holds 23% of the total outstanding common shares, after its holdings were diluted as the result of the recent redemption of Class A public warrants. Hydro has also acquired 23% of outstanding Class B warrants. Pursuant to another option that was approved by Ascent Solar's shareholders, beginning December 13, 2007, Hydro will have the opportunity to purchase additional shares and Class B warrants so that it will hold up to 35% of each class of security.

With approximately 33,000 employees in nearly 40 countries, Hydro is one of the world's leading suppliers of energy and aluminum, and its building systems and aluminum divisions are among the largest in the world.

Einar Glomnes, head of Hydro's Solar Division, stated: "Ascent Solar has developed an exciting and future-oriented solar cell technology, and we believe there will be a large market for their products. Its super-thin and flexible solar cell modules go very well together with Hydro's building systems activities, and we are looking forward to a continued fruitful partnership together with Ascent."

Ascent Solar President and CEO Matthew Foster said, "I would like to thank the management team at Hydro for this exciting vote of confidence. The additional capital will help accelerate our plans towards building our first 25MW high volume production plant. The full 25MW build-out is planned to be complete by the end of 2009. Our current priority remains the completion of our 1.5 MW pilot plant which is on track for completion by the end of 2007 with initial production beginning in early 2008."

About Hydro:

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Hydro is a leading offshore producer of oil and gas and is the third-largest integrated aluminum supplier in the world. Hydro building systems is second largest in the world and markets product under three main brand names DOMAL, TECHNAL, and WICONA. Please visit Hydro's website for additional information at www.hydro.com



To: NOREG who wrote (5)9/25/2007 4:56:55 PM
From: Skywatcher  Respond to of 23
 
Slimmer Solar Grows Up
By Jack Uldrich August 17, 2007

Right now, thin-film solar cells represent only a fraction of the sales generated by their big sibling, silicon-based solar cells. But several recent news items suggest that thin-film technology might be poised to soon step out of that long shadow.

Earlier this week, HelioVolt, a private thin-film solar company specializing in copper-indium-germanium-selenide (CIGS) solar cells, announced that it had raised $77 million in a second round of financing. The money will fund construction of a factory capable of producing 20 megawatts of solar panels by 2009. That's only slightly less than the $100 million that Nanosolar, another private thin-film company, announced it would be pouring into a 430 MW production facility late last year.

HelioVolt is particularly noteworthy because it claims that its cells have an efficiency rating of 10% to 12%. That's still considerably less than silicon-based solar cells, which have efficiency ratings of between 16% and 22%. But because thin-film cells don't rely on silicon, and can be relatively easily manufactured (once the kinks are worked out of the system), they're expected to be cost-competitive with silicon solar cells for an increasing number of applications.

This will be especially true if HelioVolt can make good on its promise to print its CIGS material onto glass -- an application that would allow windows and other building material to perform double duty as both solar collectors and structural platforms.

HelioVolt is not alone in this field. Yesterday, Norsk Hydro (NYSE: NHY) announced that it would be investing an additional $10 million in Ascent Solar Technologies (Nasdaq: ASTI). And earlier this year, Suntech Power (NYSE: STP) declared it would begin building a new 50 MW thin-film manufacturing facility in Shanghai, while Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT) revealed it would be supplying the equipment for a 250 MW thin-film facility being developed in India by Moser Baer. Still other companies, including Miasole, Konarka, United Solar Ovonics (a subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices (Nasdaq: ENER)), and Innovalight -- a holding of Harris & Harris (Nasdaq: TINY) -- are also making great strides in this field.

With all this activity, I'm betting that thin-film solar technology won't remain the proverbial 98-pound weakling to its silicon-based sibling much longer. Investors in more traditional silicon-based solar companies might want to take notice of thin film's growing strength. Those who've had sand (or in this case, silicon) kicked in their face for so long just might have a little extra motivation to return the humiliation.



To: NOREG who wrote (5)9/25/2007 4:58:19 PM
From: Skywatcher  Respond to of 23
 
Ascent Solar Wins $165K Contract
Friday August 24, 7:21 am ET
Ascent Solar Receives $165,000 Contract From National Laboratory

LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) -- Ascent Solar Technologies Inc., a photovoltaic material maker, said Friday it won a $165,000 contract from a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory to make advanced materials and processing tools.

Ascent Solar said the work could lead to reducing manufacturing costs for some of its photovoltaic materials.



To: NOREG who wrote (5)9/25/2007 4:59:33 PM
From: Skywatcher  Respond to of 23
 
and now for the really BIG news that has taken this stock into the real world...
Ascent Solar and Hydro Building Systems to Launch Brise Soleil Product Line
Tuesday September 18, 6:08 am ET

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI - News) and Hydro Building Systems, a division of Norsk Hydro (NYSE: NHY - News), today announced plans for the development of a new Brise Soleil product line incorporating thin film flexible solar modules manufactured by Ascent Solar. A variety of designs and prototypes for the new product line are planned to be introduced to the market in November 2007 at the BATIMAT international building exposition in Paris, France.

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Hydro Building Systems Development Director Werner Jager stated "Due to the successful pre-project between Hydro Building Systems (HBS) and Ascent Solar, HBS has decided to proceed further in the integration and installation of the PV modules provided by Ascent Solar. To accelerate this process HBS has dedicated a new division to focus on the smart integration of the Ascent Solar solutions into their product portfolio (e.g. windows, doors, sliders, curtain walls, roof lights). The dedicated focus of the HBS solar solutions is underlined by their intention to start selling solar products beginning in 2008. The initial results of this work will be displayed in September 2007 during the HYDRO Summit to all internal shareholders."

HBS will use the BATIMAT exhibition in Paris to display these innovate BIPV solutions to the commercial construction industry. The BATIMAT exhibition is the premier European venue for the construction and building industry. The event will take place from November 5-11, 2007.

Brise Soleil and other shading devices are a popular way of controlling solar gain and adding stylish features to a building. Overhangs or louvers mounted externally to buildings reduce the direct radiation from the sun to keep buildings cool. Shading devices including the enhanced performance provided by solar photovoltaics, gives many opportunities to limit overheating in buildings, reducing the need for energy hungry air conditioning systems, and simultaneously convert the suns energy into electricity to provide power to the building.

Hydro Building Systems Development Director Werner Jager continued "We see many opportunities to incorporate the flexible thin film solar materials into our product systems brands. The Brise Soleil product line is a great opportunity to demonstrate the advantages of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. Our Brise Soleil system analysis shows energy savings over 60% are possible and with the addition of photovoltaics, the combined effect on energy consumption will be very significant. The Ascent Solar flexible thin film photovoltaic modules provide a simple, elegant and architecturally attractive means to incorporate photovoltaics into buildings."

Ascent Solar Business Development Vice President Joseph McCabe stated "By exploiting our material's unique ability to conform into Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products become an, Ascent Solar is opening many new opportunities for solar applications when compared to more traditional roof-top or solar farm installations. BIPV products become integral part of the building structure rather than an additional bolt-on attachment. This not only reduces the installation cost but provides additional surface area to generate more power. The beauty in the flexible thin film materials is that we can address both the traditional PV market applications and create entirely new markets where traditional rigid frame PV cannot even play."

About Hydro:

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Hydro is a leading offshore producer of oil and gas and is the third-largest integrated aluminum supplier in the world. Hydro also holds a particularly strong position in the field of applications for the building and construction industry. The Hydro Building Systems division is a leading global supplier of aluminum building systems, operating through three main product brands; DOMAL, TECHNAL, and WICONA. The range of products includes window, door and walling systems, facades, partition and also different sun-shading systems such as a wide range of casement shutters and brise soleil. Please visit Hydro's website for additional information at www.hydro.com.



To: NOREG who wrote (5)10/4/2007 12:42:27 PM
From: Skywatcher  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 23
 
some more excellent news
US Air Force Increases Funding of Ascent Solar Technologies' High Efficiency Solar Cell Program
Thursday October 4, 6:00 am ET

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. ("Ascent Solar") (NASDAQ:ASTI - News), a developer of state-of-the-art, thin-film photovoltaic materials, announced today that the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has contracted to increase funding of Ascent Solar's development of high-performance thin-film tandem photovoltaics (PV) based on their flexible monolithically integrated CIGS technology. The contract modification represents up to $749,000 of additional contract value over a 27-month period.

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Since 1995, AFRL has provided funding for the development of the flexible CIGS at ITN Energy Systems, Inc. and now at Ascent Solar, including the development of aspects of future tandem devices. Tandem solar cells are two solar cells in a stack, where the top cell collects the blue portion of the solar spectrum and the bottom cell collects the rest of the visible spectrum. It is believed that the type of technology pursued by this AFRL program has the potential to reach an efficiency of 20% in the future.

Ascent Solar Chief Technical Officer Dr. Joseph Armstrong stated, "While our baseline CIGS that utilizes a single junction to convert the sun's energy has been performing very well, we are always striving to increase cell performance that can potentially lead to further reductions in system-level costs to the end user. Efficient conversion of the sun's energy is very critical to space and near-space applications, as higher efficiencies correlate directly to smaller, lighter-weight solar arrays, and significantly lower launch cost. Likewise, in terrestrial and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications, such as roofing tiles and building facades that operate at elevated temperatures, future tandem devices can provide a significant advantage over existing thin film by delivering more power in less area."



To: NOREG who wrote (5)10/7/2008 2:49:14 PM
From: $Mogul  Respond to of 23
 
Hydro Increases Stake in Ascent Solar to 35%
Tuesday October 7, 10:28 am ET
biz.yahoo.com

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of state-of-the-art, thin-film photovoltaic modules, announced today that Norsk Hydro ASA, through its subsidiary Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS, has exercised an option to purchase additional shares of Ascent Solar common stock. The option was granted to Hydro and approved by Ascent Solar’s shareholders in June 2007. Gross proceeds to the company from the follow on investment will be approximately $15 million, and reflect a per share purchase price equal to the average of the closing bid, as reported by Nasdaq, for the five consecutive trading days preceding exercise. Ascent Solar expects the transaction to close by October 8, 2008. Upon acquiring these additional shares, Hydro will hold approximately 35% of the total outstanding common shares and also approximately 35% of the total outstanding Class B warrants of Ascent Solar. Hydro has invested a total of approximately $63 million in the company.


“Ascent has developed a unique technology for the production of super thin and flexible solar cell modules that are well suited for integration in building systems. As Hydro is a major supplier of building systems in Europe, the partnership with Ascent is strategically important," says Einar Glomnes, head of Hydro's solar business unit.

Ascent Solar President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mohan Misra said “we are encouraged by Hydro’s continued support and confidence in Ascent Solar's technologies, products and people. We intend to use these proceeds to support our continued progress toward our manufacturing milestones as we ramp to commercialization.”

About Norsk Hydro ASA:

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Hydro is one of the world’s leading suppliers of aluminum, and is a major global supplier of aluminum-based building systems. The company employs approximately 22,000 people in more than 30 countries and has activities on all continents. Please visit Hydro’s website for additional information at www.hydro.com

About Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.:

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a developer of thin-film photovoltaic modules with substrate materials that can be more flexible and affordable than most traditional solar panels. Ascent Solar modules can be directly integrated into standard building materials, space applications, consumer electronics for portable power or configured as stand alone modules for large scale terrestrial deployment. Ascent Solar is located in Littleton, Colorado. Please visit our website for additional information at www.ascentsolar.com.

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the Company's actual operating results to be materially different from any historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements that contain terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates," "plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
Brian Blackman, 832-515-0928 (Investor Relations)
bblackman@ascentsolar.com
or
Brand Fortified Public Relations
Kelly Brandner, 303-289-4303 (Media)
kellybrandner@msn.com

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Source: Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.