CPS upsizes plan for Canadian solar glass factory to 6 GW

Canadian Premium Sand Inc (CVE:CPS), a Calgary-based solar glass supplier that aims to become North America’s first integrated manufacturer of patterned solar glass, has upgraded its original plan after securing off-take agreements with major panel manufacturers.

In a project update last week, CPS said it will aim to produce 800 tonnes of solar glass daily in the City of Selkirk, Manitoba, significantly more than the original 550 tonnes. This will result in an annual manufacturing capacity of 6 GW.

The expansion will be undertaken in order to meet higher-than-expected demand, the Canadian firm said as it unveiled binding fixed-cost off-take contracts with Hanwha Solutions Corporation, Heliene Inc and Meyer Burger tied to 62% of the planned output capacity. An option is also available to extend the volumes to cover 77% of the capacity.

Additionally, CPS has signed multiple memoranda of understanding (MOU) and expects them to convert into commercial off-take agreements.

The Manitoba site will produce a range of patterned solar glass specifications, including standard 3.2 mm-thick front glass for the residential and commercial rooftop segment, as well as 2.0 mm-thick glass for the bifacial utility market. PCL Constructors Canada Inc and Henry F Teichmann Inc have been hired as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors, with the preliminary deal guaranteeing a maximum cost for the scheme of CAD 880 million (USD 652.2m/EUR 597.5m).

CPS selected Manitoba as home to its production plant at end-2021, aiming to utilise the high-purity, low-iron silica sand from its fully-owned Wanipigow quarry leases and electricity generated from Manitoba Hydro's power grid.

(CAD 1.0 = USD 0.741/EUR 0.679)

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