Solyndra Signs Framework Agreement with German Roofing Company
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 2, 2009...Solyndra, a maker of cylindrical copper indium gallium diselenide photovoltaic modules based in Fremont, California USA,
reports that it has signed a new long term framework agreement with alwitra GmbH & Co., a supplier of roofing systems, based in Trier, Germany. The solar panels for this agreement will reportedly be manufactured at Solyndra's facilities in Fremont and Milpitas, CA. Solyndra says it designed its cylindrical, thin film PV systems to generate more electricity annually from typical low-slope commercial rooftops, while providing lower installation costs than conventional flat panel PV technologies. Solyndra notes that when its system is installed together with a reflective roofing membrane, electricity produced from its PV systems is optimized and total installation cost is reduced.
"We are excited to announce this agreement with alwitra, one of the world's leading manufacturers of innovative roofing systems. With alwitra's global presence and their award-winning line of highly reflective Evalon roofing membranes, this agreement builds on the benefits of Solyndra PV installations on reflective commercial rooftops and will expand our footprint in the important roofing channel," said Chris Gronet, Solyndra CEO and founder.
"Our customers always demand the best, and therefore the optimal solution is the combination of Solyndra's innovative PV system with our tried-and-tested, highly reflective white EVALON® roofing membrane," commented Joachim Gussner, alwitra's president.
Solyndra News Release
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December 2, 2009...Nitronex and Modelithics announced that they are collaborating to create non-linear models for Nitronex's high-power gallium nitride devices.
Nitronex says that the collaboration will combine Modelithics team’s 35+ years of modeling experience with its GaN power devices. Nitronex contends that the collaboration will allow power amplifier designers to achieve best-in-class performance with faster time to market. Initial models will focus on Nitronex’s new thermally improved products aimed at broadband and high efficiency amplifiers for the military communications, electronic warfare, and radar applications, Nitronex indicated.
Modelithics President and CEO Larry Dunleavy commented, “We are very pleased to add Nitronex as a Strategic Modelithics Vendor Partner and look forward to a productive working relationship benefitting designers of efficient, higher power, and broader band GaN PA Designs.”
“We are excited to be partnering with Modelithics for non-linear models of our thermally- enhanced power products” said Ray Crampton, Director of Marketing for Nitronex. “This strategic relationship with Modelithics reaffirms Nitronex’s commitment to provide best-in-class tools to designers developing high efficiency, high power and broadband power amplifiers for today’s demanding applications.”
Modelithics will make the models will be available as a free download from its website for Agilent Technologies Advanced Design System (ADS) and AWR Microwave Office (MWO) software at http://www.modelithics.com/mvp/NIT/ . The models will also be included in Modelithics® Select free shareware library, available for ADS and MWO, at www.modelithics.com.
Nitronex News Release
Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica orders Aixtron 4-inch Black Magic Tool
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 2, 2009...During the third quarter of 2009, Spanish Institute, Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (CNM), based in Barcelona, Spain reportedly ordered Aixtron's Black Magic CNT system in the 4 inch wafer configuration. The Aixtron support team is expected to perform the system installation during the fourth quarter of 2009. The institute indicated that the Black Magic tool will be used to produce CNT for various devices in development including biosensors, gas sensors, NEMS, FET circuitry, AFM probes, energy harvesting devices, low resistivity interconnections/contacts and thermal management materials.
Dr. Philippe Godignon, Grupo de Aplicaciones Biomédicas (GAB), Centro de Investigación Nacional en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), commented,
"The Black Magic tool will complete our micro-nanotechnology facilities installed in our 2,500 m2 clean room, alongside state-of-the-art equipment such as e-beam, FIB, AFMs, nanoimprints, and CVD furnaces as well as a full CMOS/VDMOS fabrication line which are currently used to develop next generation micro/nano devices in the fields of biomedicine, environment, food, security, energy and transportation applications.” Aixtron News Release
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Infineon and Nokia to Collaborate on LTE Solution Development
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 30, 2009...Infineon Technologies AG of Neubiberg, Germany, and Nokia announced a cooperative agreement to develop advanced radio frequency (RF) transceiver solutions. The agreement between the two wireless solution providers is a collaboration to ensure the compatibility and interworking of Nokia’s advanced licensable baseband modem technologies and Infineon’s RF solutions. The companies say that the collaboration will develop a verified technology reference platform for complete modem solutions for HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) through LTE (Long Term Evolution) and beyond. The companies hope that the collaboration will help drive the interface standardization for LTE-Advanced, which would enable data rates of up to 1Gbit/s.
“Pairing Nokia’s advanced modem technology and Infineon’s best in class RF transceiver solutions, will give the industry access to very competitive chipset solutions,” commented Professor Hermann Eul, member of the Infineon management board.
“Taking advantage of each company's expertise as leaders in their respective fields, this cooperation will help to deliver standard-based, industry leading solutions for mobile internet devices,” said Pekka Sarlund, Vice President, Wireless Modem, Nokia.
Infineon News Release Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems Inc. to Acquire Lasertel
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 30, 2009...Laser diode supplier, Lasertel, announced that Selex Sensors and Airborn Systems Inc. (Selex S&AS) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Lasertel, Inc. Selex S&AS is a business development, marketing, and U.S. product support arm of Finmeccanica’s defense electronics business unit. Selex S&AS is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia USA. According to the acquisition agreement, Selex S&AS will purchase Lasertel for $8 million in cash and $2 million worth of laser diode inventory. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to conclude early in 2010.
“This acquisition will support our continued growth in the market for laser diode components and assemblies. It will enable us to better serve our current customer base by supporting the development of new technologies and products.” said Lasertel’s President, Mark McElhinney. “The transfer of ownership from Lasertel’s current parent, Presstek Inc is expected to be seamless for both customers and vendors and no change or interruption in normal business processes is anticipated.” Lasertel News Release Solyndra, Inc. Signs Framework Agreement with Italy’s Sun System for About $105 Million
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 25, 2009...Solyndra, a maker of cylindrical CIGs solar modules for commercial rooftops, has signed a new multi-year framework agreement worth up to $105 million with solar integrator Sun System S.p.A., based in Milan, Italy. The solar panels for this Euro-based agreement will be manufactured at Solyndra's facilities in Fremont and Milpitas, California.
"As a company focused on cost, performance and reliability, we are very happy to announce this partnership. Solyndra’s technology sets a new standard of performance on commercial rooftops compared to conventional PV technologies in terms of installation cost, rooftop loading, non-penetrating wind performance, and energy production per roof," stated Dr. Davide Scarantino, CEO of Sun System. "Solyndra´s innovative cylindrical module geometry and fast and easy mounting technology are leading the way toward a clean energy future," added Dr. Domenico Ruggeri, Technical Director of Sun System.
Solyndra News Release HRL Laboratories to Boost GaN HEMT MMIC Capabilities with Aixtron MOCVD Tool
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 25, 2009...HRL Laboratories of Malibu, California USA, has reportedly ordered a Close Coupled Showerhead (CCS) 6x2 inch MOCVD system from Aixtron of Aachen, Germany. The order was received in the third quarter 2009 and the system will be delivered in the first quarter 2010. HRL says that the new system will be used to its work on advanced GaN technologies including growth of GaN HEMTs for millimeter-wave power applications and high voltage gallium nitride (GaN) transistors for high efficiency power switching applications.
A research staff member working on GaN at HRL commented, “We consider the high standard of performance and engineering of Aixtron’s CCS MOCVD tools a perfect match for our needs. Among the practical aspects which suit our applications are not only the low carrier gas consumption and overall efficient materials utilization but also the ease of maintenance. The CCS system has a proven track record thanks to the large number of systems installed worldwide and we will appreciate the good scale-up potential that enables an easy recipe transfer to a large system."
Aixtron News Release First Solar Sells California Solar Power Project to NRG
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 23, 2009...First Solar reports that it has sold a 21 MW solar energy project in Blythe, California to NRG Energy, Inc. The facility is just a small part of the 1300 MW of PV solar project contracts that the company has with utilities in California and the Southwest. According to the company, the facility in Blythe in Riverside County, about 200 miles east of Los Angeles, is California's largest utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar generation facility, and among the largest in North America. Construction began on the project in September and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Electricity from the plant will be sold to Southern California Edison under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The facility will reportedly employ 175 people.
First solar says that the power plant will generate about 45,000 MW/hrs of electricity per year. The company estimates that the reduction in pollution from generating electricity with solar power instead of fossil fuels would be equavalent to taking 2,200 cars permanently off the road.
"First Solar is very pleased that the first of our utility-scale solar projects in California will be coming on line with a leading power producer like NRG," said Bruce Sohn, president of First Solar. "This clean, affordable, and sustainable energy will help California meet the goals of its Renewable Portfolio Standard."
First Solar will operate and maintain the facility at Blythe under a long-term contract with NRG. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. First Solar News Release Our news features are reported
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