CPS gets strong industry support for plan to produce solar glass in Canada

Canadian Premium Sand Inc (CVE:CPS), the Calgary-based firm that aims to become North America’s first integrated manufacturer of patterned solar glass, said today that its plans have been met with “enthusiastic support” from solar sector players.

CPS unveiled in a statement that solar panel makers have submitted expressions of interested for the purchase of more solar glass than its future factory will be able to produce in its first phase.

The company said so as it applauded actions taken by US President Joe Biden to support the solar supply chain. On Monday, the Biden administration authorised a 24-month window during which solar developers across the US will be able to source photovoltaic (PV) modules and cells from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam free of certain duties. It also invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) to spur domestic solar panel manufacturing.

"This announcement provides increased visibility into the trajectory of solar panel installation growth and offers clear support for the domestic solar panel manufacturing industry. Our plan to be the only North American supplier of patterned solar glass is a timely and required element of establishing a North American supply chain for solar panel manufacturing,” said Glenn Leroux, President & CEO of CPS.

In October 2021, the company announced that following an in-depth analysis of various end market segments for glass manufacturing, it had decided to focus its future production activities on the patterned solar glass market in North America. To that end, CPS intends to build a solar glass factory in the City of Selkirk, Manitoba. The new site will utilise the high-purity, low-iron silica sand from CPS’ fully-owned Wanipigow quarry leases and electricity generated from Manitoba Hydro's power grid.

The company is currently carrying out preliminary preparation work for this project and is yet to make a final investment decision.

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