Consolidating itself once again at the summit of Italian photovoltaic production, Helios confirms its innovative capacity from the environmental standpoint too, thanks to the very latest zero discharge waste water treatment system.

Its production is therefore not only hi-tech but also has an extremely low environmental impact. This is because Helios, with 27 years' experience in the sector, has fine-turned and optimized its technological solutions in such a way as to permit great production cost reductions, an increase in the volumes produced, and the maximum respect for the environment at the same time.

Average efficiencies in excess of 15.5% with the multi-crystalline cells have been achieved after only a few weeks from the operational start-up of the new line with low rejection rates (broken cells).

The maximum attention was focussed on the environmental aspect to the point that zero water discharges have been achieved.

The hydrographical location of the Helios production works spurred its pool of engineers to study the top technologies for eliminating process waste discharges at the source, opting for an entirely environmentally friendly closed-circuit production cycle.

All of this was made possible by the introduction of a new patented system for integrated zero waste water treatment.

The solution, developed in collaboration with S.A.I.T.A. srl of Padua (Italy) is named IWT (Integrated Waste water Treatment) and involves the recovery and specific treatment of waste water exiting the photovoltaic cell production process.

The waste, separated and treated in a selective manner, is collected and treated to obtain pure and ultra-pure water for reuse. Thanks to this innovative system it is possible to reuse about 97% of the water needed by the production line, thereby avoiding environmentally degrading discharges and reducing the consumption of water, a precious asset for the entire community, to a minimum.

An annual consumption of about 1,200 cubic metres is calculated for the 30MW line (using the IWT system), for example, compared with 75,000 in a traditional plant, and with modest generation of inert solid waste (muds) for which the possibilities for reuse in other production processes are already being studied.

All this also reflects on operating costs which have been halved from 600,000 euro/year with an annual saving of 300,000 euro.

Doubling to 60 MW, with a second production line in parallel currently being installed, is confirmed for the second half of this year.

With these latest and considerable innovations, Helios Technology, a Kerself Spa subsidiary listed in the Expandi segment of the Italian stock exchange, aims to reinforce its leadership as the number one Italian producer of photovoltaic cells even further.

From the 8MW in 2006 with revenues of 32.5 million euro, Helios Technology recently reported the achievement of a 2007 turnover of 47 million, four thousand euro, with an increase therefore of more than 45% on the previous year. Further developments are expected for 2008 with the new line.

Specifically because of the combination of innovation and environmental sustainability, Helios Technology recently received the "Quality nello Sviluppo" ("Quality in Development") Award established by the Rotary Club of Padua in collaboration with the Confindustria industrialists' association, the University and the Chamber of Commerce of Padua, obtaining the congratulations of the former Confindustria chairman, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, for the results achieved by Helios.

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