Ascent Solar to sponsor collegiate solar innovation competition

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of lightweight flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules, announced Aug. 8, 2011, that the company is sponsoring an Innovative Solar Design Competition for college students across the United States. The competition will last throughout the 2011-2012 school year and will allow both students and professors alike to explore the transformational applications or uses for Ascent's innovative flexible solar modules. Teams are expected to develop working prototypes of innovative portable power applications, which are uniquely enabled using lightweight, flexible photovoltaic modules provided by Ascent. Ascent will also provide financial support for prototype development of approved designs. The teams with the top designs will receive up to $10,000 in cash prizes as well as potential internship and job opportunities with Ascent. Through this competition Ascent will help spearhead innovative uses for portable solar power across all markets. More information about this exciting competition can be found at www.ascentsolar.com/competition.

About Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a developer of thin-film photovoltaic modules with substrate materials that can be more flexible than most traditional solar panels. Ascent Solar modules can be directly integrated into military and space applications, building integrated applications, and consumer electronics for portable power or configured as stand alone modules for large scale terrestrial deployment. Ascent Solar is located in Thornton, Colorado. For more information about Ascent Solar, please visit www.ascentsolar.com.

Ascent Solar encourages strategic relationships that are well positioned to integrate our materials into systems solutions. We envision that these systems will utilize our flexible, lightweight material and unique "plug-and-play" features that should eliminate a significant portion of the wires, cables, connectors, junction boxes and conduit required in current systems.