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August 3, 2009...The Boeing Company has received a contract from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for work on Phase 2 of the Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed (FAST) program. Emcore reportedly will be part of the team working on the $15.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee DARPA contract, which is currently funded to $13.8 million. The Boeing-led team includes DR Technologies, Northrop Grumman Astro Aerospace, Texas A&M University, Emcore, Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab Inc.

The goal of DARPA's FAST program is to develop a new, ultra-lightweight High Power Generation System (HPGS) that can generate up to 175 kilowatts. This would be more power than is currently available to the International Space Station. When combined with electric propulsion, engineers plan to use FAST to form the foundation for future self-deployed, high-mobility spacecraft to perform ultra-high-power communications, space radar, satellite transfer and servicing missions.

During Phase I, the team created a preliminary design for an HPGS capable of providing more than 130 watts per kilogram on a system that is less than half the weight and one sixth the size of an existing on-orbit solar power system. The team also defined the test program being conducted in Phase 2, which will verify the performance and operation of the HPGS's solar concentration, power conversion, heat rejection, structure and deployment, and sun pointing and tracking subsystems. The design will take advantage of solar concentrator technology from Boeing, and other technology from its subsidiary Spectrolab, and Emcore. Emcore News Release

Veeco Gets Order Boom from LED and Solar Companies
CompoundSemi News Staff

August 3, 2009...Veeco Instruments Inc. of Plainview, New York, posted a net loss in the second quarter of 2009 of $14.7 million. However, orders for the company's Turbodisc MOCVD systems reportedly doubled to $57 million during the quarter compared to the previous quarter. Overall company revenues were also up 86 percent over the previous quarter to $72 million.

The company cited increasing demand for LED backlights in notebook PCs and televisions as the reason for the order increase. Company CEO John Peeler estimates that orders for LED and solar manufacturing equipment will reach somewhere between $125 million and $175 million during the current quarter. He indicated that the majority of those orders are for K465 GaN systems configured in either 12x4-inch or 45x2-inch wafer fabrication formats. Peeler said demand is being driven by vertically integrated manufacturers of LED backlighting systems and by merchant suppliers of LED wafers and chips. Company News Release

Strategy Analytics: GaAs Bulk Substrate Market to Shink Slightly in 2009
CompoundSemi News Staff

July 29, 2009...The Strategy Analytics (SA) annual forecast, “Semi-insulating GaAs Substrate Markets: 2008-2012,” predicts that the inventory corrections taken in the fourth quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009 will prevent a severe sharp decline like what occurred in 2001. SA says that although the market for bulk GaAs substrates grew 14 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, the market is expected to shrink 1% in 2009. SA notes that after looking at supply chain dynamics and analyzing end demand drivers for SI GaAs bulk substrates, it forecasts that the demand scenario through 2013 suggests a CAAGR (compound annual average growth rate) of 5% over 2008 to 2013. SA says that the corresponding market for GaAs bulk substrates will be worth $174 million in 2013. According to the report, in 2008 FCM (Freiberger Compound Materials) continued to be the leading merchant supplier of SI GaAs bulk substrates. However, AXT grew strongly and grabbed the number three market share position from Hitachi Cable.

“The slowdown in key market segments has not resulted in any significant paradigm shifts with respect to the use of GaAs technology in mainstream markets such as cellular handsets and personal computers,” stated Asif Anwar at Strategy Analytics. “Indeed usage trends point to increased GaAs device demand from these and other markets which will result in sustained demand for substrate material.” Strategy Analytics News Release

GreenWing Energy and SolFocus to Develop Utility Scale CPV Systems
CompoundSemi News Staff

July 29, 2009...SolFocus has reportedly agreed to supply GreenWing Energy Management Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada, high concentration photovoltaic (CPV) systems for GreenWing's large solar power projects in the western United States. The agreement is GreenWing's first solar energy venture. GreenWing says that it will continue to develop its portfolio of world-class wind energy projects in the U.S. and Canada. GreenWing says it intends to install the CPV systems in utility-scale projects (20-300MW) and larger distributed generation applications (1-20MW). The SolFocus CPV system uses patented reflective optics to concentrate sunlight 650 times onto small and efficient solar cells. SolFocus boasts that its solar cells are twice as efficient as silicon solar panels, and its 1100S system uses about 1/1,000th of the active, expensive solar cell material. SolFocus insists that in sunny regions, its CPV technology yields efficiencies that approach parity with fossil fuel generation.

SolFocus CPV panels are ground mounted on two-axis trackers to optimize power production during all daylight hours. SolFocus indicates that its system requires next to no water usage, has a very small footprint, and produces emissions free electricity without noise, permanent shadowing, wildlife corridor interruptions, or disruptive solar glare.

"GreenWing is confident that the energy conversion efficiencies and modest environmental impacts of the SolFocus technology will represent a competitive advantage for GreenWing in providing our customers with a reliable and cost-competitive renewable energy product for many years to come," stated Dan Allard, CEO of GreenWing Energy Management Ltd. SolFocus News Release

Researchers Make CIGS Cells with 12 Percent Efficency
CompoundSemi News Staff

July 27, 2009...The University of Luxembourg''s laboratory for photovoltaics has produced its first thin film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells, already reaching a 12 percent efficiency. The lab's researchers contend that thin film solar cells are the next generation of solar cells and they expect them to be considerably cheaper because they need much less material and energy in their production than today’s photovoltaic modules.

The researchers contend that their production process has the potential for highest performance. The scientists of the university's laboratory for photovoltaics also produced another solar cell based on a what they say is new cheaper material. The new material does not contain the costly indium. It is reportedly made by a low cost galvanic process. This solar cell has reached an efficiency of 3.2 percent, already close to the world record for this material of 3.4 percent.

Professor Susanne Siebentritt, head of the laboratory, explained, “Currently we can produce the heart of the solar cells, the so called absorber layer and the buffer. But for completing the solar cells we rely on the help of our colleagues from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin.” She added, "We have just a few months ago moved into our new labs. This allows us finally to start the solar cell preparation. These are really our first solar cells and they have already reached competitive efficiencies.” University of Luxembourg News Release

EDF Energies Nouvelles and First Solar to Build 100MW CdTe Solar Plant in France
CompoundSemi News Staff

July 27, 2009...EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN) of Paris, France and First Solar, Inc. of Tempe, Arizona USA, announced plans to build France's largest CdTe solar panel manufacturing plant. The plant will reportedly produce solar panels made with First Solar's CdTe, thin-film photovoltaic technology and have an initial annual capacity of more than 100MWp,. First Solar will build and operate the plant. EDF EN have reportedly used the CdTe solar panels from First Solar in several previous projects.

ull production is projected for the second half of 2011. First Solar says that the plant will employ more than 300 people.First Solar says that the plant represents an investment from the two companies totaling EUR 90 million. EDF Energies Nouvelles has agreed to finance half of the capital expense and plant start-up costs and will benefit from the plant's entire output for the first 10 years. The companies intend to announce the choice for the site location within the next few months. EDF EN reportedly raised EUR 500 million last year to finance its expansion in the photovoltaic sector, and has set itself a target of installing 500MWp in photovoltaic capacity for its own account by 2012.

French Sustainable Development Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, commented, "I salute the decision of EDF Energies Nouvelles and First Solar to invest and create jobs in France's solar sector, which has begun to take off since the Grenelle de l'Environnement." First Solar News Release

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