ARISE Technologies Meets Third Milestone for its Silicon Feedstock Pilot Plant Project

    WATERLOO, ON, May 21 /CNW/ - ARISE Technologies Corporation (TSX: APV and
Frankfurt: A3T), which is dedicated to becoming a leader in high-performance,
cost-effective solar technology, today announced that it has met the third
major milestone at its Silicon Feedstock Pilot Plant Project in Waterloo.
    "We have accomplished a great deal on this project in a relatively tight
time period for such an innovative and ambitious project. We are proud that
our ARISE team again has demonstrated our ability to meet clearly defined
objectives and strategic plans," said Bart Tichelman, President and Chief
Executive Officer.
    "Meeting this milestone clears the way for ARISE to proceed with our
previously announced plans to build a Pilot Plant with a target rate of
50 tonnes per year in 2009 and a target production capacity of 400 tonnes per
year in 2010. Construction of the Waterloo facility is planned to begin in the
third quarter of this year," Mr. Tichelman stated.
    Meeting the third milestone required achieving specific objectives at the
Mini Pilot Plant with respect to economics, scalability, and quality of the
process. The company met its first milestone of the project with the August
2007 commissioning of the Silicon Refining Furnace version 3.1 (SiRF(TM) 3.1).
ARISE met its second milestone when the Mini Pilot Plant became operational in
December 2007, successfully producing polysilicon.
    "We have completed the initial engineering work required to build the new
pilot plant in Waterloo," reported Jeff Dawkins, Vice-President and General
Manager, PV Silicon Division. "This includes the equipment design of the first
SiRF(TM) 4 furnace, and procurement and fabrication are underway. The SiRF 4
generation will produce production-size polysilicon rods, and we expect to use
SiRF 4 equipment in our planned 400-tonnes-per-year facility."
    ARISE's silicon feedstock development project is being partially funded
by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). The project is developing
a new approach being used for refining high-purity silicon needed for
high-efficiency PV (photovoltaic) cells. The proprietary process that ARISE is
developing is intended to produce 7N+ high-purity (99.99999 percent) silicon
for PV applications using a simplified chemical vapor deposition process.
ARISE believes that its ability to produce 7N+ high-purity silicon will enable
it to meet its target of more than 20 percent efficiency for PV cells.
    SDTC is funding about one-third of the eligible project costs up to
$6.4 million, payable in tranches as ARISE meets specified milestones. SDTC's
funding of the project is leveraged by an additional $13.2 million committed
by a consortium led by ARISE.

    About ARISE Technologies

    ARISE Technologies Corporation, based in Waterloo, Ontario, is dedicated
to becoming a leader in high-performance, cost-effective solar technology. The
company operates through three divisions. The PV Cell Division manufactures PV
(photovoltaic) cells at its first manufacturing plant opened in April 2008 in
Bischofswerda, Germany. The division is developing proprietary technology with
a target of achieving a step-by-step progression to a high-efficiency level of
greater than 20 percent. The PV Silicon Division is using a proprietary method
to produce silicon at 7N+ high-purity (99.99999 percent) for PV applications,
based on a simplified chemical vapour deposition process. The division is
focusing on scaling up its process to provide ARISE with control over its
supply, costs, and quality. The PV Systems Division provides complete turnkey
PV solutions for solar farms and rooftop installations under the Ontario
standard offer program.
    The company's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
symbol APV and on the Frankfurt Open Market Exchange under the symbol A3T.
Additional information is available at www.arisetech.com and www.sedar.com.

    About Sustainable Development Technology Canada

    Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is an arm's-length
foundation, which has received $1.05 billion from the Government of Canada as
part of its commitment to create a healthy environment and a high quality of
life for all Canadians. SDTC operates two funds aimed at the development and
demonstration of innovative technological solutions. The $550 million SD Tech
Fund(TM) supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean
water, and clean soil. The $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund(TM) supports the
establishment of first-of-kind, large-demonstration-scale facilities for the
production of next-generation renewable fuels. SDTC operates as a
not-for-profit corporation and has been working with the public and private
sector including industry, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
the financial community, and all levels of government to achieve this mandate.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this news release may be considered to be
forward-looking. Such statements are based on management's current
expectations, estimations, and assumptions based on experience, trends, and
other factors that are subject to the significant risks and uncertainties
described in our regulatory filings. Please refer to these. Such risks and
uncertainties may include, but are not limited to, the effects of general
economic conditions, changing foreign exchange rates, actions by government
authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations,
industry supply levels, competitive pricing pressures and misjudgments in the
course of preparing forward-looking statements. ARISE assumes no obligation to
update any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual
results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements.

For further information: ARISE Technologies Corporation, 65 Northland
Road, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2V 1Y8, Dave Chornaby, Chief Financial
Officer, (519) 772-5732, Dave.Chornaby@arisetech.com, www.arisetech.com