A Statement from Awendio Solaris:

An update on our plans to develop a multi-gigawatt solar cell and modules manufacturing facility and global R&D centre in Montréal-Est.

Montréal, Wednesday 17 December 2025

Today, during a fireside conversation hosted by the Chambre de Commerce de l’Est de Montréal between the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions, Christine Fréchette, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Mme Chantal Rouleau, Minister Responsible for Social Solidarity and Community Action, Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region and Montréal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada, our project was cited as part of the economic development vision for Montréal-Est. We are proud for our project in development to be one of the cornerstones of Québec and Canada's energy transition plans.

Our intention is to invest $1 billion CAD to develop a solar cell and module manufacturing facility and global R&D centre in Montréal-Est, Québec. Our goal is to establish one of North America's largest fully integrated silicon solar PV manufacturers, with the ambition to create close to 1,000 high-quality manufacturing and R&D jobs while primarily serving the US market as well as the Canadian market, and leveraging a fully north American supply chain.

Building North America's Solar Future

We are working to develop a state-of-the-art facility capable of delivering up to 2,500 MW of annual production capacity in its first phase, with plans to scale to 5,000 MW. Our proposed facility would manufacture solar cells and assemble solar panels using n-TOPCon technology—a proven technology already deployed by US and Canadian developers and utilities—to ensure high efficiency, affordability, and environmental durability.

This project represents a major, private sector-led investment in advanced clean manufacturing. Our team is working diligently with the objective of establishing genuine long-term operations in Québec, including a global centre of excellence for solar R&D.

End-to-End North American Supply Chain

What distinguishes our approach is our commitment to full supply chain transparency and traceability. We are developing plans for an end-to-end North American supply chain, with the aim of leveraging Québec's natural resources including quartz, metallurgic silicon and green aluminium. Our proposed supply chain would span from silicon production in North America through conversion to polysilicon and wafers in Michigan, to final cells manufacturing and module assembly in Québec.

We envision manufacturing taking place in a clean and highly automated environment benefiting from advanced robotic assembly lines and AI systems. Our plans include powering operations primarily with Québec's hydroelectricity, supplemented by on-site solar generation using our own products, to minimize Québec’s grid consumption while maximizing environmental performance.

Strategic Location and Partnerships

We are partnering with Broccolini, who will be responsible for the development and completion of our facilities, including key steps linked to acquiring the site. Industrial sites in Montréal-Est are currently being assessed, with the final land selection to be confirmed as the project advances.

Our project brings together leading partners across multiple sectors. German integrated solar manufacturing engineering specialist RCT Solutions, alongside the expertise of AtkinsRéalis—a world-class engineering services company whose capabilities span the entire lifecycle of an asset.

First Nation Partnership and Collaboration

We are honoured that three First Nations—the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, Wendat Nation, and Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke—have agreed to join us as investor-partners in this project. These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to the respectful development and deployment of solar technologies in Québec, and the intention of making Indigenous Peoples and communities fundamental partners in advancing solar electricity production throughout Canada.

We recognize that we will be building on traditional Indigenous territory, Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), a place historically known as a site of exchange and gathering for many First Nations and that the Kanien’kehá:ka consider as being part of their traditional territory. We approach this project with humility and respect, particularly valuing the participation of Indigenous Peoples as both our investors and partners in this journey.

Innovation and Research Excellence

We have established R&D partnerships with three leading Québec universities—Université de Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke. These partnerships aim to leverage Montréal's global leadership in artificial intelligence and the Université de Sherbrooke's Integrated Innovation Chain ecosystem. This way, we will be better equipped to advance solar materials discovery, optimize manufacturing at scale, and reduce technology costs across the photovoltaic value chain.

Our plans also include developing the Solar Open-Lab for Applied Research Centre (SOLAR), a proposed non-profit innovation hub featuring experimental PV production lines. This collaborative space would welcome companies, startups, and universities to advance solar technologies while offering technical training for the critical skills needed in this fast-growing industry.

Economic Impact

According to an economic impact assessment conducted by EY, our project's first 10 years (including an anticipated construction period from 2026-2028) are estimated to contribute $5.5 billion CAD to Canada's GDP while sustaining approximately 2,500 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs annually across the country. By the end of the anticipated construction period, the project is estimated to contribute approximately $442 million CAD to Québec's GDP while supporting over 1,400 FTE jobs.

Government Collaboration and Path Forward

We are working closely with the Canadian and Québec Governments, as well as with Investissement Québec, Montréal International and Hydro-Québec with the objective of making this project a cornerstone of Québec and Canada's energy transition plans. National Bank of Canada is acting as our financial advisor.

We are targeting financial close by the end of Q1 2026, with an anticipated construction start in Q2 2026 and volume production beginning in 2028. The project remains subject to customary regulatory and environmental approvals, as well as other conditions precedent to final investment decision.

Why Solar, Why Now?

With the United States installing 50,000 MW of solar capacity in 2024 alone, solar has become one of the most affordable and readily available sources of electricity. We see continued growth potential in supporting both the US and Canada maintain their competitive advantage in clean energy—a capability vital for economic and social development across North America.

Over the past two years, we have been working to rally local partners around this investment project, as well as others in the US and Oman. The enthusiasm we've encountered from the business community, research institutions, and First Nation partners speaks to the transformative potential of our project and demonstrates Greater Montréal and Québec's leadership in the global clean energy transition.

Working with the Community

Today marks an important milestone in our development journey. As we bring this vision to life, we look forward to continuing this dialogue with the community, our partners, and stakeholders as we progress toward making this project a reality.