Source/Type: CompoundSemi Online -- Compound Semiconductor Supply Chain News - Reported News

Ascent Solar Gains Cooperative Development Agreement After Production Line Meets Initial Operating Capability
Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

April 2, 2008... Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. of Littleton, Colorado USA, reported reaching a definitive cooperative development agreement with ICP Solar soon after announcing that its production line met capacity and performance expectations. Under the terms of the agreement, Ascent Solar will provide ICP Solar with thin-firm photovoltaic (PV) material from its existing 1.5 MW production line in 2008 and 2009, and ICP Solar will at the same time develop, test, and integrate Ascent Solar's PV materials into ICP Solar's portable power and other electronic integrated PV products.

In addition to reaching initial operating capacity with its roll-to-roll manufacturing line, the company reported better-than-expected average efficiencies of 9.5 percent from the solar cells made on the production line. The company also indicated that production met its targeted uniformity standards of plus or minus approximately 3 percent across the width of the roll and plus or minus approximately 2 percent along its length. Ascent Solar says it plans to begin limited commercial production by the end of the second quarter of 2008, supplying development and test modules to customers in support of joint product development efforts currently underway. The company also will initiate product certification activities in the that time frame. Ascent Solar News Release.

ICP Solar CEO and Chairman Sass Peress stated, "Placing the PV material and modules on flexible, lightweight, plastic substrate materials allows for manufacturing of similarly lightweight and flexible solar panels, which will expand our new product development opportunities.” Ascent Solar News Release

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