Reported by CEN Staff

THORNTON - The profile of Ascent Solar Technologies has been rising steadily in Colorado’s New Energy Economy, and today it just got significantly stronger. The developer of flexible thin-film solar modules, was joined by Governor Ritter and local officials in cutting the ribbon for the company’s new world headquarters.

The renewable energy manufacturer has said it plans to add 180-200 jobs jobs over the next two years.

Ascent Solar “recycled” an existing 120,000 square-foot building
on Grant Street and expanded it to 145,000 square-feet, making renovations to house its headquarters and planned 30 megawatt capacity manufacturing lines that will produce solar modules for powering homes, commercial buildings and consumer devices, among other applications.

The new facility is in addition to the company’s existing one
in Littleton, where its 1.5 MW capacity manufacturing line
produces 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.”

Joining the Governor at today’s event were Thornton Mayor Erik
Hansen, Adams County Commissioner Larry Pace and Ascent Solar
Chairman and CEO Dr. Mohan Misra.

“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. Misra.

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