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Spire Gets NREL Approval to Begin Phase II of Concentrator Solar Cell Contract
CompoundSemi News Staff

January 13, 2010...Spire Corporation, a provider of turnkey solar production lines reports that its wholly owned subsidiary, Spire Semiconductor, LLC, has successfully completed Phase I of its High Efficiency Concentrator Solar Cell program with the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The NREL reportedly authorized Spire Semiconductor to begin Phase II of the program. . Phase II involves an 18-month, $3.7 million cost share subcontract in which Spire Semiconductor is developing technology to cost-effectively manufacture 42% efficient, 500 sun, concentrator solar cells for concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems.

Spire Semiconductor passed through the NREL Stage Gate Review, a go/no go decision point to validate the progression of the project and assure that progress meets contract objectives. Performance parameters such as competitive levelized cost of energy (LCOE); annual manufacturing capacity potential; direct manufacturing cost; and cell mean time between failure (MTBF) had to meet project objectives for Phase I. PV cell performances of greater than 39% efficiency was achieved during Phase I.

“We are very happy to be given the go ahead with our program,” said Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation. “It validates our efforts toward developing a proprietary gallium arsenide (GaAs) concentrator solar cell that exceeds anything commercially available.” Mr. Little added, “With Spire’s strong position in the solar industry, the availability of our custom GaAs concentrator will put us in a good position to help our customers meet this market demand.” Spire News Release

January 13, 2010...Thales Communications of Clarksburg, Maryland has reportedly selected the Spectrum Microwave Business Unit of Spectrum Control Inc. as the supplier for the RF power amplifier for the Extended Band Manpack, an accessory to the AN/PRC-148 JTRS Enhanced Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio. Production of the RF power amplifier will be performed at Spectrum Microwave's Palm Bay, Florida operation and is currently expected to commence in early 2010. 

Dick Southworth, Spectrum Control's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "This is a major win for our Microwave Group. The selection by Thales for the development and production of the RF Power Amplifier for their Extended Band Manpack Radio highlights our technical design and production capability strengths for the military market.  We look forward to a successful and continuing relationship with Thales on this and future projects." Spectrum Control News Release

Global Solar Energy Gives Taste of CIGS Technology with USB-Enabled Portable Charger
CompoundSemi News Staff

January 11, 2010...Global Solar Energy Inc., a maker of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar products has introduced a portable solar charger with a universal serial bus (USB) connection. The Sunlinq portable solar charger is designed to charge and power any mobile device capable of connecting and charging via a USB interface. The company says that the charger, which is equipped with efficient, flexible solar cells, allows consumers to keep their devices charged and ready to use at any time, from any location.

According to Global Solar, the portable chargers can provide reliable solar power generation for any device with a USB port including mobile phones, PDAs, iPods, and electronic readers like the Kindle. The company notes that unlike most solar chargers which rely on an integrated battery to store power, the USB Mini and Plus solar chargers provide energy directly to the device’s battery for a faster and more efficient charge. The company originally designed the chargers to meet military specs, with a tough, weather resistant, nylon rip-stop backing. Their voltage regulation is standardized to 5V to meet USB charging specifications. The company contends that the SUNLINQ portable chargers offer power even under cloudy or overcast skies.

Jim Kimbrough, North American sales manager for Global Solar commented, “With the addition of our SUNLINQ USB Mini and Plus Global Solar can address the growing list of more than two billion electronic devices capable of charging via USB technology.” Company News Release

BIPV Metal Roofing Systems Provider EnergyPeak and Ascent Solar Innovate Metal Roofing Solution
CompoundSemi News Staff

January 11, 2010...Ascent Solar of Thornton, Colorado USA , a producer of flexible, thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar modules announced the development of new, variable width, building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products with the help of EnergyPeak. The new products are for the U.S. standing seam metal roof marketplace. The work to optimize this new metal roof solution has reportedly been part of an existing agreement with EnergyPeak of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. EnergyPeak is a marketing segment of CENTRIA Services Group. Both Ascent Solar and EnergyPeak expect the testing of novel BIPV products to proceed through the first half of 2010, with the intent to purchase modules for projects in the second half of 2010.

“We are pleased to publicly announce our existing relationship with Ascent Solar. We look forward to testing PV products from Ascent that can meet the needs of our metal roof industry," Rick Mowrey, Director of Marketing and Business Development for EnergyPeak and CENTRIA stated.

“Metal roofing systems are an ideal end market solution of our unique, light weight and flexible photovoltaic modules. With a short-term total addressable market of 10 million square feet of BIPV per year and long-term 100 million square feet of BIPV per year, EnergyPeak is an ideal business partner for this endeavor,” Farhad Mogadam, CEO of Ascent Solar commented. EnergyPeak News Release

XsunX Announces Completed Hybrid CIGS Thin-film Solar Device
CompoundSemi News Staff

January 6, 2010...XsunX of Aliso Viejo, California USA announced the completion of a fully-functional copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar device.   The company is reportedly pioneering a hybrid solar cell technology that adapts manufacturing processes from the hard disk drive (HDD) industry to produce CIGS solar cells deposited on stainless steel substrate with “pseudo square” configuration. XsunX believes that this can replace traditional silicon wafer solar cells.  

“With this completed sample we have reached a critical milestone in our development process, achieved through the vigilant efforts of our engineers and trusted business partner,” said Tom Djokovich, CEO, XsunX, Inc. “This initial achievement illustrates a realistic set of company goals and demonstrates the strength of our relationships with the business and technical expertise that kept us on track.”  

  “Approaches to mass-scale production of CIGS thin-film cells today introduce processing defects that significantly reduce cell performance,” said Robert Wendt, CTO, XsunX, Inc. “Because we are leveraging stationary small-area, high-rate, production technologies and not scaling up to large area processing, we’re able to strive for laboratory-metric conversion efficiencies.”    

XsunX says it will evaluate data concerning performance and conversion efficiency to continue to fine-tune each cell layer based on input collected from small-area devices. Ultimately the company hopes to perfect its engineering designs. XsunX News Release

Mitsubishi Electric to Ship InGaP HBT Power Amplifier for WiMAX Terminals
CompoundSemi News Staff

January 6, 2010...Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Tokyo, is reportedly selling a new InGaP HBT power amplifier, the MGFS38E2527, for use in WiMAX2 subscriber terminal equipment. The company notes that the module measures just 4 mm x 4 mm, and produces high output power of 28.5 dBm3 with low distortion. Sample shipments will commence on January 25, 2010.

The power amp reportedly offers worldwide interoperability for microwave access with a 75 Mbps high-speed wireless communication system having a range of 50 kilometers, in the case of fixed wireless access.   According to the company the device will help extend the communication range between WiMAX base stations and terminals. The company notes that there is a growing need for compact power amplifiers for installation in WiMAX terminals such as PC cards and customer premises equipment to deliver high output with low distortion, while maintaining high radio signal quality.

Previously Mitsubishi Electric released a series of InGaP HBT power amplifiers, the small-size MGFS36Exxxx for WiMAX terminals used in mobile and fixed-line communications, and the MGFS39Exxxx, which features industry-leading output power combined with low distortion. The company now adds the new MGFS38E2527 power amplifier to this lineup. The company says that compared to existing models, this newest amplifier provides more power and less distortion in a smaller package. Mitsubishi Electric News Release

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