ENER Accretion Acquisition Corporation

Uni-Solar Ovonic Awarded $4.45 Million Contract From Air Force Research Laboratory The contract will continue funding the development of lightweight and high- efficiency solar cells and solar modules for airship and space applications AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Solar Ovonic Corp. (Uni-Solar Ovonic), the world leader in thin-film amorphous silicon solar technology and a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics) (NASDAQ:ENER), announced today that the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, has awarded Uni-Solar Ovonic a $4.45 million, 18-month contract to develop new solar cell technology to be used in space and airship vehicles addressing defense and homeland security applications. Today's announcement builds upon the success of earlier contracts with the Air Force. In May 2003, AFRL awarded an $11.5 million contract to Uni-Solar Ovonic to develop its ultra-lightweight solar arrays to be used in space and airship vehicles under which AFRL had an option to extend the contract with Uni-Solar Ovonic to provide additional funding. The Advanced Space Power Generation Group in the Space Vehicles Directorate of AFRL will administer the contract. UNI-SOLAR(R) space photovoltaic (PV) products offer an ultra-light, low- cost alternative to conventional space PV modules made of crystalline silicon or gallium arsenide. The Uni-Solar Ovonic triple-junction modules, originally developed for terrestrial applications, are made of amorphous silicon-based thin-film alloys, which are deposited on a 5-mil flexible stainless steel substrate. By utilizing a polymeric substrate, new space cells will be developed that have a specific power density greater than 1000 watts per kilogram (W/kg), which is significantly higher than what is currently available. A high specific power density is required for airship application. The radiation hardness and superior high-temperature performance of amorphous silicon make it an attractive material for space application. "Considering the high launching cost of satellites, UNI-SOLAR lightweight cells are economically attractive for space applications. We are very happy that we are opening up a new era of air and space solar energy solutions so vital to our nation's future," said S.R. Ovshinsky, Chairman and CEO of Uni- Solar Ovonic and President and CTO of ECD Ovonics. "Next generation solar arrays for Air Force missions need to be cheaper, lighter and more stowable than what are currently available," said Dr. Donna Senft, Program Manager of the AFRL Advanced Power Generation Program at Kirtland AFB. "We are impressed with the work that Uni-Solar Ovonic has been carrying out under AFRL contracts to address these goals." "We are delighted to collaborate with AFRL to develop products for this rapidly expanding market," said Subhendu Guha, President and Chief Operating Officer of Uni-Solar Ovonic. "The new funding will accelerate our commercial goal of supplying solar cells for satellite and airship applications." About Uni-Solar Ovonic Uni-Solar Ovonic is a wholly owned subsidiary of ECD Ovonics. Building on technology invented and pioneered by ECD Ovonics, Uni-Solar Ovonic is the world leader in thin-film amorphous photovoltaics. Its 30-megawatt production equipment is the world's largest and most advanced machine for the manufacture of thin-film amorphous silicon alloy solar cells and related products used for a variety of applications ranging from charging batteries for solar lanterns to large solar farms for utility-scale applications. UNI-SOLAR(R) solar cells are lightweight, rugged and flexible, and are ideal as building-integrated photovoltaic roofing systems for residential and industrial customers. ECD Ovonics and Uni-Solar Ovonic hold the basic patents covering the continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing of thin-film amorphous silicon alloy multi-junction solar cells and related products. More information is available at http://www.uni-solar.com/ . This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which ECD Ovonics, as of the date of this release, believes to be reasonable and appropriate. ECD Ovonics cautions, however, that the actual facts and conditions that may exist in the future could vary materially from the assumed facts and conditions upon which such forward-looking statements are based. DATASOURCE: United Solar Ovonic Corp. CONTACT: Subhendu Guha, President of United Solar Ovonic Corp., +1-248-475-0100, Web site: http://www.ovonic.com/ http://www.uni-solar.com/

Copyright