Solibro Starts Shipments of CIGS Modules
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 2, 2008...Solibro GmbH of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany, has started shipping copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin film solar cell modules to customers. The company has reportedly signed supply contracts for almost its entire production with important photovoltaic systems companies like HaWi Energietechnik GmbH, SUNOVA AG, Geckologic GmbH, Thermovolt AG, and SUNSET Energietechnik GmbH. In April 2008, the first full size module was made and measured, and the company produced its first 11 % full area efficiency modules. The company notes that a smooth production ramp helped it produce its first MWp of CIGs solar modules in mid-August. Solibro says its up-time, yield, throughput and efficiency are all steadily improving as planned.
Q-Cells, the parent company of Solibro, announced on August 13 that Solibro will increase the capacity of its plant in Bitterfeld-Wolfen from 30 MWp to 45 MWp. Additionally it will build a second production line with a production capacity of 90 MWp. Both expansion projects have already begun, and first modules from the 90 MW site are expected in Q4 2009. “We are excited too see our first modules being installed in the field now”, said Solibro COO Dr. Johannes Segner. “The data from our reference test sites make us confident that the field performance of our products will meet our customers’ demanding expectations.” Dr. Segner concluded, “The strong demand for Solibro products and the successful ramp-up of production was the basis for the expansion decision. We are eager to support the growth of our customers.” Q-Cells News Release
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PTB Epitaxy Facility of the PTB Boasts Production of Highest Purity Semiconductor Layers
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 3, 2008...PTB has reportedly set up a new molecular beam epitaxy system to create semiconductor layers of the highest purity. High purity semiconductor layers have highly-mobile electrons move through the crystal without collision with residual impurities. PTB says that already the first structures made with at its facility have shown an electron mobility of up to up to 7.5 million cm2/Vs, a value five times better than conventional epitaxy system. PTB says its new development extends its leading position in electrical quantum metrology with semiconductor structures.
PTB points out that semiconductor heterostructures made of GaAs and AlGaAs are employed to produce electrical resistance using the quantum hall effect and to produce applications for single-electron charge pumps. The mobility of electrons increases with decreasing impurities of the material. PTB says that the fabrication of pure semiconductors is achieved through molecular-beam epitaxy with a high quality vacuum in the growth chamber. Also, PTB uses special cooling panels to adsorb residual impurities before they can be incorporated in the semiconductor crystal.
PTB says it will promote the development of semiconductor single-electron pumps. Furthermore, the universality of electrical quantum Hall resistance metrology will be investigated focussing on measurements of the fractional quantum Hall effect. PTB News Release Bookham Introduces 20W Fiber Laser Pump Module
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 3, 2008...Bookham of Zurich has introduced a single emitter-based pump laser module capable of delivering 20W of fiber coupled power into a 105µm, 0.15NA fiber. The module operates at wavelengths from 795 to 980nm. Bookham says the product is designed to target fiber laser and direct systems for material processing applications, and will allow laser manufacturers to optimize their dollar per watt ratio. The company indicates that the increased power output of its pump module enables customers to generate greater power levels for fiber laser pumping with fewer modules. According to Bookham this allows for more compact pump configurations, greater pump block efficiency and simplification of packaging.
“As we see new entrants into the already highly competitive fiber laser marketplace, cost will be an increasingly important factor for differentiation and the dollar per watt ratio is the key metric for all manufacturers,” said Gunnar Stolze, Director of High Power Laser Marketing and Sales at Bookham. “With this increased power offering, we are enabling manufacturers who do not have their own internal pump laser diode technology to compete on both performance and price.”
Company News Release
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Century Epitech Corp. Increases Power LED Capacity with Aixtron MOCVD Systems
LIGHTimes StaffSeptember 2, 2008...Century Epitech Corporation of Shenzhen, China reportedly ordered multiple MOCVD systems from Aixtron for the increased capacity to produce power LEDs. The company ordered two of the the AIX 2600GE systems. One was put in the 24x2” configuration and the other was in the 49x2” configuration. According to Aixtron, the systems were delivered to the Century Epitech’s facilities in the new Shenzhen Guangming Technology Zone in the second quarter of 2008.
Mr. ZhiMin Liang, Century Epitech board member commented, "We have been consistently impressed with the AIXTRON Group’s MOCVD equipment and process technology. It was therefore a straightforward decision to place the order for our future production capacity expansion plans. Their equipment matches our needs for the manufacturing of power LEDs in high volume, cost competitively and with rapid time to market.” Aixtron News Release International Rectifier Rejects Vishay’s Buyout Offer
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 2, 2008...International Rectifier Corporation (IR) of El Segundo, California USA, a maker of power management solutions, announced that its board of directors has unanimously declined the offer of Vishay to acquire the company. According to IR, the board of directors decided that the the non-binding and unsolicited proposal from Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a maker of discrete semiconductors and components, to acquire all of the outstanding shares of International Rectifier for $21.22 per share in cash was not in the best interests of IR and its shareholders. In a letter from the IR board to Vishay officially declining the offer, IR characterized the offer as “inadequate” and “opportunistic”.
Richard J. Dahl, chairman of the board of International Rectifier said, “Vishay’s proposal significantly undervalues the Company and its future prospects when compared to the shareholder value realizable under our recently adopted strategic plan.” He added, “In our judgment, IR shareholders will be better served by allowing management to move forward with its strategic plan. We believe that IR’s valuation is still under the cloud of legacy issues. The Board and our management team look forward to executing the exciting opportunities available to our Company and to delivering this value to our shareholders.”
International Rectifier News Release AVA Solar Completes $104 million Financing Round
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 2, 2008...AVA Solar, a company based in Fort Collins, Colorado USA, that produces cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic modules, has raised $104 million in its second equity round of financing. The funding round was led by DCM and included new investors Technology Partners, GLG Partners and Bohemian Companies, LLC as well as prior investors, including Invus, LP. The company says that it will use the funds to complete its first production facility in Longmont, Colorado. According to the company, the facility will have a production capacity of 200 MW per year.
AVA Solar was founded in 2007 with technology that came from 15 years of research at Colorado State University’s Material Engineering Laboratory.
"I am very pleased to have closed this financing with such a prestigious group of investors," said Pascal Noronha, CEO of AVA Solar. "This funding will allow us to move quickly to establish our first manufacturing facility to produce cost-effective PV modules." AVA Solar News Release Amplification Technologies Unveils Photomultiplier in Near Infrared Wavelength
CompoundSemi News StaffSeptember 2, 2008...Amplification Technologies Inc. of New York, announced the development of what it says is the top performing high gain solid state photomultiplier that operates in the near infrared (NIR) wavelengths of 1000 to 1700 nanometers (nm). Device samples are expected to be available from ATI in TO8 or Chip on Sub-mount (COS) packages in the 4th quarter of 2008. The development work was primarily funded by Phase II of a NASA SBIR grant. ATI says that the fields of spectroscopy, night vision, industrial and scientific instrumentation, astronomy, quantum cryptography, and other military, defense, and aerospace applications have an acute need today for ultra-sensitive, compact, rugged, and inexpensive optical sensors in the near infrared wavelength range of spectrum.
ATI reportedly based the design and the prototype on its Discrete Amplification Photon Detector (DAPD) technology.
“Implementing DAPD in the InGaAs/InP material system is a major step forward for low level photon detection and amplification, and opens the door to new and improved applications and opportunities across many diverse fields,” said Jack N. Mayer, Executive Chairman of ATI.
“NASA needs high efficiency and high bandwidth single photon counting devices in the 1000-1600 nm wavelength region, and the new device from Amplification Technologies is the easiest to operate photon counting detector with good performance that we have seen in that wavelength range," said Mr. William Farr, Manager of the Optical Communication Technology program at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Company News Release Our news features are reported
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