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Ascent Solar and FTL Solar Sign Strategic Alliance Supply Agreement
CompoundSemi News Staff

March 3, 2010...Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a maker of thin-film photovoltaic modules, has signed a strategic supply agreement with FTL Solar, LLC of Austin, Texas. The agreement includes a minimum purchase commitment of $6.5 million over a three year period for Ascent Solar's flexible CIGS photovoltaic two meter and premier modules. FTL Solar will distribute Ascent Solar's flexible thin-film CIGS solar cells on fabric.

Some of Ascent Solar's products that FTL Solar will distribute will take advantage of Ascent Solar recently obtained certification MIL-STD 810G, which allows the company to provide solar products for defense applications.

FTL Solar CEO Tony Saxton, stated, “We are pleased to announce that FTL Solar is a US distributor for Ascent's light weight photovoltaic (PV) modules for fabric awnings, airbeams, tents, tensile structures, sailboat sails, tarps and umbrellas." Saxton said, "We have hit the market with FTL Solar's PowerMod™ tents with Ascent Solar PV modules 'outside' for military and tent rental industry sales, and with FTL Solar's PowerFold™ hand-held battery chargers for military and consumer sales." Ascent Solar says it is scheduled to begin shipments to FTL Solar of their lightweight solar integrated tensile fabric product line that is intended to serve defense/disaster relief, and the portable power segments. Ascent Solar News Release

March 3, 2010...Sensors Unlimited-Goodrich ISR Systems has introduced two cameras with advanced imaging enhancements that the company says expand the dynamic range of short wave infrared (SWIR) imagery. The company reports that its new indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) SWIR SU320KTX (320 x 240 pixel format with 40 micron pixel pitch) and the SU640KTSX (640 x 512 pixel format with 25 micron pixel pitch) cameras take a advantage of a number of new tehcnological advancements such as a new on-board automatic gain control (AGC) and adjustable enhancement thresholds.

The company says that the devices have the unique ability to automatically compensate for variations in light levels that may differ by up to five orders of magnitude. Sensors Unlimited contends that its the SU320KTX and SU640KTSX models are easy-to-integrate into mobile, handheld, or aerial surveillance systems and are compact, lightweight, and feature low power consumption.

The cameras have simultaneous RS170 analog and 12-bit CameraLink digital outputs for plug-and-play video and high quality images for image processing or transmission. Most importantly, this SWIR technology provides a key advantage by detecting reflected light at wavelengths that the human eye cannot see, providing real-time daylight-to-low-light imaging. The new cameras provide the highest sensitivity available in the SWIR 0.9 to 1.7 micron spectrum. The optional NIR/SWIR models extend the range of operation down to 0.7 and up to 1.7 microns. Sensors Unlimited News Release

Global Solar Energy’s Flexible Thin Film CIGS Achieves 13.2 Percent Efficiency

March 1, 2010...Global Solar Energy reports that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has confirmed 13.2 percent aperture area efficiency for its CIGS thin film module on a flexible substrate. Global Solar claims that it is the first manufacturer to exceed the 13 percent milestone using thin film on a flexible substrate. The company says that the benchmark advances the thin film photovoltaic market and underscores its leadership as the only manufacturer of Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) cells on a flexible substrate in full-scale production.

“Global Solar Energy is the first company to exceed the 13 percent efficiency target using thin films on a flexible stainless steel substrate, and joins a small number of PV companies who have met this high efficiency milestone for large thin film power modules,” said Dr. Ryne P. Raffaelle, Director of NREL’s National Center for Photovoltaics. “This result is remarkable, given that the module was made using standard production equipment and manufacturing processes at Global Solar Energy.”

Global Solar Energy, a manufacturer of high-efficiency CIGS solar products, has reportedly been selling CIGS thin-film products on a flexible substrate for over six years. The company boasts that it has brought CIGS technology to a variety of applications from portable solar chargers, to traditional glass modules, to next generation building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products. Global Solar News Release

RFMD and Selex Galileo Extend Collaboration to Develop GaAs MMIC Solutions for Radar
CompoundSemi News Staff

March 1, 2010...Selex Galileo, a U.K.-based defense electronics manufacturer, and RFMD have extended their collaboration to develop GaAs MMIC solutions for Selex Galileo's next generation of electronically-scanned (E-SCAN) phased array radar systems. Selex Galileo and RFMD have collaborated in GaAs MMICs since signing a strategic cooperation agreement in May 2008. 

RFMD reports that it has also begun production shipments to Selex Galileo of GaAs MMIC chipsets for insertion into Selex Galileo's surveillance and fire control radar systems. RFMD manufactures its GaAs MMIC process for Selex Galileo on six-inch substrates at RFMD's UK-based GaAs wafer fab in Durham.

Jeff Shealy, vice president and general manager of RFMD's Defense and Power business unit, said, "We are pleased to support Selex Galileo's high frequency GaAs requirements using our GaAs technical expertise and high volume commercial wafer fab. We value our collaboration with Selex Galileo and look forward to growing our relationship, while delivering world-class GaAs solutions for their advanced radar systems."

Bob Bruggeworth, president and CEO of RFMD, added, "Selex Galileo is a valued strategic customer in our Defense and Power business and we are pleased to announce the strengthening of our collaboration as we move from development phase to production phase. Our combined efforts represent an excellent match for RFMD's strategic mission to extend and leverage our leadership in RF components and compound semiconductors into multiple industries." RFMD News Release

Solyndra, Inc. Signs Distribution Agreement with DC Power Systems
CompoundSemi News Staff

March 1, 2010...Solyndra, Inc. of Fremont, California USA, has signed DC Power Systems to be a new North America distributor for its cylindrical solar systems for commercial rooftops. "With a great cost to output ratio, Solyndra is an excellent non-penetrating PV system choice for our commercial installers,” said Daniel Marino, Executive Vice-President of DC Power Systems. “Coupling the flexibility of their module and mounting system with our strong technical support and design capabilities gives customers an exciting rooftop solar solution.  DC Power Systems is pleased to be working with Solyndra as we move forward."

"DC Power Systems has an outstanding reputation in renewable energy and they offer their customers a wide range of technology and service capabilities,” said Chris Gronet, Solyndra CEO and founder. “They clearly are the type of innovative, value-added distributor that we seek when authorizing a company to offer Solyndra products." Solyndra News Release

Ascent Solar Achieves Mil-Spec 810G Certification for Defense Applications
CompoundSemi News Staff

February 24, 2010...Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. reports that its Premier and 2 Meter flexible CIGS solar modules have been certified to meet U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) military ruggedization standards known as MIL-STD-810G. The company, a developer of flexible thin-film CIGS photovoltaic modules based in Thornton, Colorado USA, says that the MIL-STD-810G standard focuses on environmental engineering issues and requires products to pass various laboratory tests to ensure that military equipment operates in worldwide environments.

Ascent Solar President and CEO Farhad Moghadam stated, "MIL-STD-810G certification is a significant step forward in penetrating the defense application market for military and disaster relief integrated products. These certified modules are equipped with a non-reflective coating to prevent glare and have demonstrated the ability to withstand humidity, shock and sand blasting. Specialty markets which include defense applications are vital to our ability to demonstrate the diverse market opportunities with partners and customers using our unique flexible CIGS modules." Ascent Solar News Release

Concentrix Solar to Deploy Megawatt CPV System at Chevron Facility
CompoundSemi News Staff

February 24, 2010...Concentrix Solar, a recent acquisition of the Soitec Group of Germany, signed an agreement to deploy a one MW CPV power plant for Chevron Technology Ventures. Concentrix says that the concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) plant will be installed at the Cheveron Mining facility in Questa, New Mexico USA. The plant will leverage Concentrix's Flatcon technology. The Flatcon modules are comprised of a lens plate (Fresnel lens) and a base plate on which the high performance solar cells are mounted. The Fresnel lens focuses sunlight concentrated by a factor of almost 500 on the solar cells beneath. Concentrix boasts that it will be the largest CPV installation in the USA and among the largest in the world. Chevron stated in a press release that the power produced will be sold through a power purchase agreement to the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. Concentrix Solar CEO, Hansjorg Lerchenmuller commented, "With their high direct normal irradiance and their high energy demand, the Southwestern states of the USA are perfectly suited for our CPV technology. Our Flatcon technology's high-precision, two-axis tracking system helps utilities to match U.S. peak power demands. "

In the USA, Concentrix Solar previously installed a demo system on the University of California San Diego campus which confirmed system efficiencies (AC) of 25 percent. Concentrix's production facility in Frieburg, Germany has a current capacity of 25 megawatts; further expansion is planned. Concentrix Solar News Release

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