Ascent Solar Demonstrates Superior Breadth of Capability at the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Exclusive TE 18-3 Event in Washington, DC

THORNTON, CO. , July 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. ASTI, a developer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art, lightweight, and flexible thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, announces that the Company was one of 44 companies invited to demonstrate their breadth of capabilities at the US Special Operations Command's (SOCOM) invitation-only Technical Experimentation (TE 18-3) Event held July 17-19, 2018.

This 3-day event held in the Washington DC area at the U.S. Army's Fort AP Hill (Bowling Green, VA) featured several premier Developers and Systems Integrators as they presented the latest technological advances in communications, intelligence, surveillance, and expeditionary power to SOCOM and the US Department of Defense (DoD).  

Ascent Solar was honored to be the only solar company, one of only 3 companies overall in the Power sector, and one of  only 5 companies featured in 2017 who were again selected to participate in 2018 based on their successful reception last year. The Company demonstrated its diverse breadth of product capabilities, ranging from small micro-modules that can be used to discretely power Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS), to a solar-enabled Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) wing able to extend flight endurance and allow for additional electronic payload capability, to larger solar solutions such as the MilPak-E that provide modular PV-based solutions capable of charging multiple devices in man-portable, squad and platoon scenarios.

"We are honored to have been selected to participate in SOCOM's TE 18-3" says Joe Kigin, Head of Worldwide Sales and Business Development at Ascent Solar.  "The event itself was targeted specifically to areas that are a key focus of SOCOM – Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Mobility, C4/Cyber, and Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) – which happen to be in the sweet-spot of the capabilities that our rugged, lightweight solar can provide to the Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Civilian sectors.  While technology has advanced to the point that the Special Operations Forces of the DoD have tremendous tools available to them to help perform the mission, it is increasingly evident that the ability to power these devices wherever they are called upon to perform is of primary concern.  Our inclusion reflects the fact that these organizations use a variety of high-powered electronic equipment that requires sustained power in order to ensure maximum effectiveness.  In most cases this power comes from batteries that must be replaced frequently, adding to weight-loads on the soldier that are coming under increased scrutiny.  The frequent replacement of these limited capacity batteries, unnecessarily expose the asset and the soldier to dangerous situations.  In situations where advanced electronics (UGS and SUAS) are utilized, the need to replace batteries puts the operator and the device at risk of exposure and detection, thus reducing the effectiveness of the intelligence-gathering effort.  Ascent Solar's diverse portfolio of rugged, lightweight, and powerful PV-based solutions, such as the MilPak 60E, our XD12 and XD48 portable high-powered solar blankets, our range of custom micro-modules, and the advent of our SuperLight technology for Space and Aerospace applications, will allow the Department of Defense to reduce the logistics requirements, which will increase mission effectiveness and save lives."

ABOUT ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC:

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., an ISO 9001-2015 certified company, is a developer of thin-film photovoltaic modules using flexible substrate materials that are more versatile and rugged than traditional solar panels.  Ascent Solar modules were named as one of the top 100 technologies in both 2010 and 2015 by R&D Magazine, and one of TIME Magazine's 50 best inventions for 2011.  The technology described above represents the cutting edge of flexible power and can be directly integrated into consumer products and off-grid applications, as well as other aerospace applications. Ascent Solar is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado. More information can be found at www.AscentSolar.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements."  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the Company's actual operating results to be materially different from any historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  In addition to statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements that contain terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates," "plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward-looking.  The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:
Ascent Solar Technologies 
Investor Relations 
PCG Advisory Group Media Relations 
Adam Holdsworth 
adamh@pcgadvisory.com 
+1-646-862-4607