Emcore Awarded Contracts From Air Force Research Laboratory and PNM
Source/Type: Reported News

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

June 24, 2009... Emcore Corporation, a solar power innovator based in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA reports that it has been awarded a $5.7 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory. Emcore was also awarded a 20-year contract from the PNM, New Mexico's largest electricity provider for PNM's distributed generation solar power program. The contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, is for the development of high-efficiency photovoltaic solar cells. Under the two year contract, Emcore will demonstrate high efficiency solar cells for space applications and investigate advanced photovoltaic devices based on inverted metamorphic (IMM) structures. The contract also includes a an additional twelve-month award of $3.4 million for advanced IMM development once the base contract has been completed. Funding for the entire contract has been appropriated. Emcore News Release.

The 20-year agreement with PNM consists of 114 kilowatts of solar power produced for 2nd and 3rd generation concentrator photovoltaics onsite at Emcore's corporate headquarters in Albuquerque. The electric power will come from Emcore's 2nd and 3rd generation concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) systems installed next to its Albuquerque facility. The power is fed to Emcore's buildings through a PNM-approved REC meter. This is reportedly the company's first distributed generation application.

"This is a significant milestone in advancing solar power applications for both Emcore and PNM. The DG program allows power to be generated close to the point of use and distributed without requiring a comprehensive transmission infrastructure," Christopher Larocca commented. Emcore News Release

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