Q-Cells and ATS Partner to Accelerate Solar Growth in Ontario

Market Leaders Partner to Deliver 10 Percent of the FIT Ground Mounted Solar Projects in Ontario

CAMBRIDGE, ON, and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16, 2010 /CNW/ - Q-Cells SE, one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) companies in the world providing solar power plants, modules and cells, and ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (TSX: ATA), a leading global provider of innovative, custom designed, turnkey manufacturing solutions, and through Photowatt, an integrated manufacturer and developer of solar systems, today confirmed that they have established a joint venture for the development of large scale renewable energy projects in Ontario.

ATS and Q-Cells each hold a 50 percent interest in the project development company Ontario Solar PV Fields Inc., which received conditional Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) contracts from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) in April for seven Ontario ground mounted projects totaling 64 megawatts (MW). The projects represent approximately 10 percent of the 650 MW of ground mounted solar projects awarded throughout the province and are expected to begin construction in 2011 and beyond.

ATS and Q-Cells will both contribute project development, engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) and related services to the venture. The partnership will utilize domestic content modules supplied by Photowatt Ontario with Q-Cells solar cells.

"We are very pleased to have combined the capabilities of two proven global solar companies to quickly serve the rapidly developing solar opportunities in the Ontario market," said Martin Cecchetto, ATS Vice President, Corporate Development. "Together we offer a compelling, fully integrated solution and track record to potential developer and financial partners that will make widespread solar adoption in Ontario a reality and significantly expand the solar expertise and presence in the Province."

The partnership will draw on ATS's significant local solar expertise as an Ontario headquartered company that provides automation services globally to many top-tier solar companies and parent of Photowatt, a fully integrated solar supplier with a 30 year track record. The Q-Cells Group is one of the world's leading photovoltaic companies and global solar integrator with project experience in Ontario.

"The Ontario market is projected to be one of the dominant solar markets in North America in 2011," said Marc van Gerven, Q-Cells North American Chief Executive Officer. "This partnership is an excellent fit with our internationalization strategy by bringing together the global solar expertise of Q-Cells with leading local partners in the industry such as ATS".

For more information on Ontario Solar PV Fields, please visit www.ontariosolarpvfields.com

The conditional Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) contracts from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) are one step in the overall FIT program. Details of the Ontario FIT Program and process are available at the OPA web site: www.powerauthority.on.ca.

About ATS

ATS Automation provides innovative, custom designed, built and installed manufacturing solutions to many of the world's most successful companies. Founded in 1978, ATS uses its industry-leading knowledge and global capabilities to serve the sophisticated automation systems' needs of multinational customers in industries such as life sciences, computer/electronics, energy, automotive and consumer products. It also leverages its many years of experience and skills to fulfill the specialized automation product manufacturing requirements of customers. Through Photowatt, ATS participates in the growing solar energy industry. ATS employs approximately 2,700 people at 17 manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia and China. The Company's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ATA. Visit the Company's website at www.atsautomation.com.

About Photowatt

Photowatt is a turnkey solar project developer and integrated manufacturer. Photowatt designs, manufactures and sells solar modules, and installation kits, and provides solar power systems design and other value-added services, principally in Western Europe and Ontario. Photowatt has a well-established and ongoing research and development program, alliances with energy industry leaders through the PV Alliance joint venture, and 30 years of experience in processing silicon and making ingots, wafers, cells and modules.

Photowatt Ontario has been established as part of the Photowatt group to serve the Ontario solar market. Combined with ATS, it is uniquely positioned, with over one million square feet of Ontario-based manufacturing, more than 900 local employees, substantial automation and project expertise and extensive global solar capabilities and experience to be a natural domestic solar market leader. Visit the Photowatt website at www.photowatt.com and the Photowatt Ontario website at www.photowattontario.com

About Q-Cells

The Q-Cells Group is one of the world's leading photovoltaic companies. Its extensive product portfolio ranges from solar cells and modules right up to complete photovoltaic systems. Q-Cells develops and manufactures its products at its Group headquarters in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany and markets these via a global distribution network. A second production facility is located in Malaysia. At Q-Cells, over 200 scientists and engineers are working on rapidly enhancing the technology in order to achieve the company's aim: reducing the costs of photovoltaics quickly and permanently, and making the technology competitive. The close intermeshing of research, development and production allows Q-Cells to put innovations into mass production in the quickest possible time and thus to assume a top technological position in the photovoltaic industry. Q-Cells SE is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (QCE, ISIN DE0005558662) and in the German technology index TecDAX. Visit the Company's website at www.q-cells.com.

Note to Readers: Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ATS, or developments in ATS's business or in its industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. Forward-looking statements may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. ATS cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the development of large scale renewable energy projects in Ontario; the receipt of conditional FIT contracts from the OPA for seven Ontario ground mounted projects totalling 64 MW; expected timing of commencement of construction; contribution by ATS and Q-Cells of project development, EPC and related services; utilization of domestic content modules supplied by Photowatt Ontario with Q-Cells solar cells; and the projected size of the Ontario solar market in 2011. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: general market performance including capital market conditions and availability and cost of credit; economic market conditions; third party or internal delays in the construction of the Photowatt Ontario module line; the ability of ATS and/or Photowatt Ontario to source materials and resources required to allow supply of domestic content modules as planed; unanticipated impediments to contributions by ATS or Q-Cells of planned project development, EPC and related services; ability to secure project financing and buyers for the projects; ability to connect projects to the power grid on a cost effective basis; ability to obtain necessary government and other consents, certifications and approvals for solar projects and products in a timely manner or at all; potential for political, labour or supplier disruptions; unfavourable adjustments to the Ontario FIT program; and other risks detailed from time to time in ATS's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions, and, except as required by applicable securities laws, ATS does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.

For further information: ATS Automation, Martin Cecchetto, Vice President Corporate Development, TEL [phone]; Q-Cells North America, Jamie Kvittem, TEL [phone], [email protected]; Q-Cells SE, OT Thalheim, Sonnenallee 17 - 21, 06766 Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany; Q-Cells Corporate Communications: Ina von Spies, Tel.: +49 - (0)3494 - 6699 10121, [email protected]; Q-Cells Investor Relations: Stefan Lissner, Tel.: +49 - (0)3494 - 6699 10101, [email protected]