Air Products Signs Gases Supply Deal with PV Manufacturer

Hunan Gongchuang Plans 40MW Facility

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Sep 05, 2011, 10:00 ET

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Sept. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced it has signed a contract with Hunan Gongchuang Photovoltaic Science & Technology Co., Ltd for the supply of bulk and specialty gases at its news silicon thin-film photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, China.

The contract includes the supply of hydrogen and nitrogen, as well as silane, nitrogen trifluoride, dopant mixtures and other products.

Hunan Gongchuang is building a 40MW manufacturing facility utilizing Oerlikon Solar's Micromorph® turnkey production line, known as the FAB 1200. The new facility is expected to begin production by the end of this year.

"Air Products is pleased to be the primary gas supplier for Hunan Gongchuang's new thin-film PV facility," said Wayne Mitchell, vice president and general manager, Electronics, for Air Products. "We remain focused on helping our customers drive down their cost-per-watt through innovative materials and product delivery solutions."

Hunan Gongchuang's silicon thin-film PV modules, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, will be manufactured in much the same way as thin-film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD). As one of the leading suppliers to the TFT-LCD industry, Air Products is ideally suited to supply the new facility.

Air Products recently dedicated a 2MW solar farm at its Corporate Headquarters in Allentown, Pa., that is comprised of more than 11,000 silicon thin-film panels supplied by two of its customers. The farm is capable of supplying enough energy to power more than half of the company's administration buildings and will lower its carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint by approximately 2,000 tons per year.

Air Products selected silicon thin-film panels to demonstrate its belief in the promising new technology and because the silicon thin-film panels provide the lowest cost of energy for the project parameters. Their advantageous performance in diffuse light ― the light most typical in the U.S. Northeast ― and their cost-effective installation for large area projects were drivers in the sourcing selection.

With the demand for renewable energy and improved efficiency on the rise, Air Products is well positioned to support these developing markets with its expertise and project experience in areas including large-scale hydrogen supply for cleaner transportation fuels, developmental work on the hydrogen economy, hydrogen vehicle fuelling and infrastructure, leading natural gas liquefaction technology, and now the growing supply of gases and services for the PV industry.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. In fiscal 2010, Air Products had revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,300 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About Gongchuang Photovoltaic

Gongchuang Photovoltaic, founded in 2009, is located at the foot of Nanyue Mountain, which is one of the five famous mountains in China. It is a pioneer company which engages in the technology development of silicon-based thin film solar module and photovoltaic products manufacturing, and the application of on-grid and off-grid solar power plant and building integrated photovoltaic. Its facility covers an area of over 140,000 square meters with an initial capacity of 50 MW and an expected capacity of 500 MW in 2015.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.

SOURCE Air Products