HSINCHU, Taiwan, Dec. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AU Optronics Corp.
("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today
announced that its process water full-recycling system, the first
of its kind developed in Taiwan(1), launched at the
Company's Lungtan site. AUO has made a technological breakthrough
in process water recycling. By going through various recycling
phases, process water could be condensed and reduced by 98%, and
then zero liquid discharge is realized by using high efficiency
evaporation equipment. AUO also pledged that by year 2020, the
Company will achieve three major water resource goals, namely
"Water Reduction, Water Creation & Water Replenishment". The
goals are: TFT-LCD production water intensity will be reduced by
30%, 10,000 tons of reclaimed water will be used daily at AUO's
Taichung site, and water replenishment will be achieved
at AUO's Lungtan site. Proactive and forward-looking water resource
development strategies will be deployed to ensure sustainable
development for the environment.
"Under the increasingly extreme weather conditions, risks caused
by water shortage present challenge and crises. However, through
technological advancements in green and water resource management,
AUO continues to create new values and opportunities on the path to
sustainability. For instance, we were the first to have engaged in
the research of process water full-recycling in 2010(1).
The system successfully operated in the end of this year, proving
that it not impossible to strike a balance between environmental
and economic development. Next, through the declaration of the
three goals of AUO Water 2020 -- Water Resource
Development Blueprint, AUO is committed to safeguarding the water
resource on a proactive and long-term basis," said Paul SL Peng,
AUO's Chairman & Chief Executive Officer.
Premier Chi-Kuo Mao, while
attending the event, also acknowledged AUO's long-term dedication
to the research and development of water-saving technologies, and
subsequently the successful launch of the process water
full-recycling system. The Company, capable of balancing both
business development and environmental protection, sets an example
for the sector.
AUO started the research and development of process water
recycling in 2010, and had worked with Industrial Technology
Research Institute of Taiwan
(ITRI) for a year on partial technologies involved. Then, AUO
proposed its self-designed system and construction plan, and
initiated the three-year construction of process water
full-recycling system in 2013. The system officially launched in
the end of this year, setting a successful example for independent
system design and integration achieved by local teams. The process
water full-recycling system at AUO's Lungtan site uses membrane
bioreactor (MBR), reverse osmosis (RO), electrodialysis reversal
(EDR), and evaporator (EVP) during the various phases of water
recycling and reusing to achieve zero liquid discharge. Meanwhile,
by leveraging optimized and integrated design, AUO's process water
full-recycling system could significantly reduce energy use and
sludge, which is an advanced and environmentally-friendly water
resource recycling solution available in the manufacturing
sector(1).
AUO continues to sharpen its edge on the research and
development of various water saving and processing technologies to
increase water efficiency and reduce use of tap water; in 2015, the
total process water recycled at all sites in Taiwan amounted to 112 million tons,
equivalent to the annual water consumption of 373,300 households
(2). The next step is to attain
the three goals of "Water Reduction, Water Creation & Water
Replenishment" by 2020. "Water Reduction" refers to a 30% drop in
the production water intensity, which will be achieved by improved
processing technologies and water treatment equipment to
effectively reduce water use during production. "Water Creation"
refers to 10,000 tons of reclaimed water used daily by AUO's
Taichung site, which echoes the national water resource policy and
significantly increases autonomy in water supply. "Water
Replenishment" will be achieved based on Lungtan's zero liquid
discharge solution. Through self reduction in water use and
technological support to the supply chain, AUO aims to become
Taiwan's first
company(1) to achieve water replenishment by collective
water-saving efforts along the supply chain..
AUO also declared today the opening of AUO GreenArk at Lungtan
site, which adopts AUO's solar modules and storage system to meet
low carbon green concept. It is hoped that through the showcase and
guided tour(3), the public could
better understand AUO's innovative water recycling technologies and
water related knowledge, planting the seed of green consciousness
and promoting the concept of sustainability.
(1) Based on the available market research
information as of December 29,
2015.
(2) According to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, in 2015
the average water consumption per person per day amounted to 274
liters, and each household accounted for three individuals.
(3) To apply for guided tour at AUO GreenArk, please see:
http://auo.com/?sn=38&lang=zh-TW
ABOUT AU OPTRONICS
AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) is one of the world's leading providers
of optoelectronic solutions. AUO offers a full range of panel sizes
and comprehensive applications ranging from 1.4 inches to 85
inches. Based on its profound R&D and manufacturing experience,
AUO continues to develop advanced display technologies of the next
generation. AUO extended its market to the green energy industry in
2008. By building a vertically integrated high-efficiency solar
value chain, AUO provides its customers with high-efficiency solar
solutions. AUO currently has global operations in Taiwan, Mainland China, the U.S., Japan, South
Korea, Singapore,
the Netherlands, Czech and
Slovakia. Additionally, AUO is the
first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to be successfully listed at the
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AUO has also been named to Dow
Jones Sustainability World Index from 2010 to 2015. AUO generated
consolidated revenues of NT$408.18
billion in 2014. For more information, please visit
www.AUO.com.
Safe Harbour Notice
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE:
AUO), a global leader of TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above
news. Except for statements in respect of historical matters, the
statements contained in this Release are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements were based
on our management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the
time regarding matters including, among other things, future
revenues and costs, financial performance, technology changes,
capacity, utilization rates, yields, process and geographical
diversification, future expansion plans and business strategy. Such
forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and
unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
statements, including risks related to the flat panel display
industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance of and demand for our
products, technological and development risks, competitive factors,
and other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in
our Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission on March 24th, 2015.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/auo-reveals-three-major-goals-of-auo-water-2020--water-resource-development-blueprint-300197517.html
SOURCE AU Optronics Corporation