Ascent Solar Opens World Headquarters in Colorado

THORNTON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of state of the art flexible thin-film solar modules, will be joined by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., and local officials today to cut the ribbon for the company’s new world headquarters in Thornton, Colo., just north of Denver, where Ascent Solar plans to add 180-200 renewable energy jobs over the next two years.

Ascent Solar “recycled” an existing 120,000 square-foot building at 12300 Grant Street in Thornton and expanded it to 145,000 square-feet, making renovations to house its headquarters and planned 30 megawatt (MW) capacity manufacturing lines that will produce solar modules that can power homes, commercial buildings and consumer devices, among other applications. Ascent Solar is expanding from its existing Littleton, Colo., facility, where its 1.5 MW capacity manufacturing line currently produces fully integrated lightweight thin-film CIGS modules using a flexible plastic substrate.

“Thanks to companies such as Ascent Solar, all across Colorado, we’re creating a sustainable energy future, sustainable opportunities for new businesses, and sustainable jobs,” said Gov. Ritter. “The New Energy Economy is leading Colorado forward and will be one of the keys to bringing us out of this recession. Colorado and Ascent Solar’s success are a model for how America can and must re-tool our entire economy.”

At today’s event, Gov. Ritter, City of Thornton Mayor Erik Hansen, Adams County Commissioner Larry Pace and Ascent Solar Chairman and CEO Dr. Mohan Misra will speak to local guests and Ascent Solar employees to celebrate the opening and tour the manufacturing facility under construction, where initial equipment installation has started and production will begin next year.

“Ascent Solar’s flexible, thin-film technology has been in development in Colorado for more than 15 years, so it is a great milestone to open a large-scale facility here that will help bring talented employees and a unique enabling solar technology to the market at a time when the economy and environment are creating great demand,” said Dr. Mohan Misra, Ascent Solar’s chairman and CEO.

The company is working with its partners to develop products that include building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) that can be part of rooftops, awnings and siding, for example, to provide solar power.