IBM to Collaborate on Concentrator Photovoltaic-Powered Water Desalination Project
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 7, 2010...IBM of Armonk, New York USA, reports that it is working with a Saudi Arabian organization to develop a water desalination plant powered by concentrator photovoltaic technology. IBM and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology,Saudi Arabia's national research and development organization, said the desalination plant will be able to produce up to 30,000 cubic meters of water (7.9 million gallons) per day.
The plant will reportedly be built in Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia, to serve 100,000 people. Officials said the plant will be capable of operating at a concentration greater than 1,500 suns.
The process will also involve another IBM-Saudi Arabian jointly developed nanomembrane that filters salts and potentially harmful toxins. IBM says that the membrane uses less energy than other forms of water purification.
"Using these new technologies, we will create energy-efficient systems we believe can be implemented across Saudi Arabia and around the world," said Sharon Nunes, vice president of IBM Big Green Innovations.
IBM made waves in the solar industry in June with the development of a solar cell made of copper, zinc, tin, and sulfur CZTS (all abundant elements) that had an efficiency of 9.8 percent. Although not confirmed, IBM will likely not use the CZTS solar cells for the plant, but stick to gallium arsenide-on-germanium multi-junction solar cells that are often used in concentrator photovoltaic systems.
IBM News Release April 7, 2010...Applied Quantum Technology (AQT), a copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar manufacturer based in Santa Clara, California USA, reports that Intevac will supply equipment to be used for its current and future production needs.
AQT will reportedly use the Intevac equipment to leverage its proprietary manufacturing process called "CIGS 2.0". AQT contends that its CIGS 2.0 process allows for continuous in-line manufacturing that simplifies and streamlines the manufacturing process. AQT claims that the process results in the highest projected capital utilization efficiency in the industry, while dramatically reducing cell costs.
"This agreement is an important milestone for Intevac as this tool will represent our first shipment in the solar industry," said Kevin Fairbairn, president and chief executive officer of Intevac. "By leveraging our proven high throughput lean manufacturing platform, Intevac enables the economic solution to AQT and the solar cell industry for conventional cell sizes. AQT is an important business partner and we are excited to begin a long term partnership as their manufacturing equipment supplier utilizing their CIGS process technology."
"This agreement with Intevac is a major step towards capitalizing on AQT's breakthrough CIGS 2.0 approach," said Michael Bartholomeusz, chief executive officer, AQT. "Our leverage-based business model depends on strategic partners like Intevac in order to address the three critical success factors required by the new PV market realities; scalability, aggressive cost reduction and continuous technical advancement. Intevac enables AQT to address our mission to achieve the highest cost/performance ratio of any solar cell manufacturer."
Applied Quantum Technology News Release
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Solyndra updates risks in their roadmap to profitability
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 6, 2010...Solyndra, a thin-film CIGS solar manufacturer that produces cylindrical solar cells, filed an amendment to form S-1 on March 16. This amendment updates their risk factors, and includes an assessment by independent auditors, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, that expresses concerns about the company's economic position.
The company filed its original S-1 registration statement, in preparation for an initial public offering, back on December 18, 2009.
According to the amended S-1 statement, several economic factors have changed since that time. During that time the company has increased its debt despite earning $100.5 million in revenue for 2009. In the first three quarters of 2009, the company claimed losses of $119.8 million. Then during Q4 2009, Solyndra added another $53.7 million to its losses for the year. The overall deficit for the company rose to $557.7 million by the end of 2009.
The average manufacturing cost for the solar modules during 2009 was reportedly $4 per Watt, while the average sale price of the modules was $3.24 per watt. According to the amended form, the company's actual sale prices were 66 percent higher than that of silicon cells.
Copper indium gallium diselenide material is inherently difficult to work with, and putting it on a cylinder rather than a flat surface makes it even more difficult.
Solyndra revealed in the amended S-1 form that turning the corner to profitability was dependent upon increasing their capacity with throughput improvements in Fab 1, as well as construction of a second fab, funded through what they hope is a combination of capital from the IPO as well as $469M in debt that would be backed by a DOE loan guarantee, neither of which are assured. According to the filing total capital required for the land, buildings, improvements, manufacturing equipment and certain sales, marketing and other start-up costs, for Phase I and Phase II of Fab 2 will total approximately $1.38 billion. A current DOE guaranteed loan facility, along with a previous round of equity financing, covered Phase I of Fab 2, leaving a $642M nut to crack for Phase II.
Amended S-1 Form Filed March 16, 2010 RFMD Recognized as No. 1 For Mobile Phone Power Amplifiers and Front End Modules
CompoundSemi News StaffApril 6, 2010...RF Micro Devices, Inc. (RFMD) reported that Gartner Dataquest recognized it as the worldwide leading supplier of mobile phone power amplifiers and front end modules based on revenues for 2009.
According to the March 29, 2010 report, "Market Share Analysis: Mobile Phone Application-Specific Semiconductors, Worldwide, 2009," RFMD remained number one position in both categories. Also in the report, Gartner Dataquest identified RFMD as the world's 8th largest supplier of overall mobile phone application-specific semiconductors in 2009, based on revenue. RFMD's 2009 revenue in the category increased to $712 million, according to Gartner Dataquest. The Gartner Dataquest report says that RFMD is one of only four companies in to achieve year-over-year growth in this category.
Eric Creviston, president of RFMD's Cellular Products Group (CPG), said, "We believe Gartner Dataquest's independent research findings highlight RFMD's product leadership and the continued success of our customer diversification efforts. We are committed to expanding our leadership position in cellular RF components by delivering breakthrough products and leveraging our relationships with the world's top-tier mobile device manufacturers and cellular platform providers."
RFMD is reportedly bolstered by strong 2010 handset unit volumes, expanded participation across customer and channel partner programs and increasing adoption of connected devices, including smart phones and 3G devices. Also, RFMD's Multi-Market Products Group (MPG) is recovering across its diversified end-markets, led by applications in SmartEnergy AMI, defense and power, point-to-point backhaul, WiMAX/WiFi CPE, electronic toll collection in China, and catalog/standard products.
RFMD News Release NREL and 3M to Collaborate on Renewable Energy Research
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 31, 2010...The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a series of cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) with 3M of St. Paul, Minnesota. The agreements between NREL and 3M establish joint investigations in three key areas of innovation: thin-film photovoltaics, concentrating solar power and biofuels.
3M will colllaborate with the NREL to develop new moisture barrier films and flexible packaging for increased performance of CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) thin film solar cells, and they will also work to
create new reflective coatings to protect and enhance the performance of lower-cost mirrors used in concentrating solar power.
3M and NREL have also agreed to find alternatives to ethanol biofuel distillation that will reduce energy and water use, and increase throughput in existing corn ethanol and future cellulosic ethanol production plants.
“CRADAs like these with 3M not only help shift the nation to clean energy, but they also establish and expand important partnerships for product development through technology transfer," NREL Senior Vice President of Commercialization and Deployment Casey Porto said.
"3M is excited for the opportunity to tap into NREL’s expertise and understanding of a variety of solar modules and the interplay between the materials and systems,” said Mike Roman, general manager and vice president of 3M Renewable Energy Division.
3M News Release
Imec and Partners Start Work on Project to Leverage Nanostructures for Improved Solar Cell Efficiency
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 31, 2010...Imec of Leuven, Belgium reports that it has begun working with its project partners on PRIMA, a project to improve the efficiency and cost of solar cells though the use of metallic nanostructures. PRIMA is a project under the EU’s 7th framework program for ICT (FP7).
The goals of the FP7 project PRIMA are to gain insight into the physical mechanisms of metallic nanostructures in order to improve the light absorption of the solar cell’s material, and to study how these structures can best be integrated into the production of solar cells.
Imec and its partners plan to test a number of structures and benchmark their performance against state-of-the-art solar cells. The performance and applicability of the cells will then be assessed by solar cell companies that are participating in the project.
Imec will reportedly act as the project coordinator with other PRIMA partners: Imperial College (London, UK), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), Photovoltech (Belgium), Quantasol (UK) and Australian National University (Australia).
Certain nanostructured metallic surfaces can absorb and intensify light at specific wavelengths. This is because the incoming light results in a collective oscillation of the electrons at the metal’s surface.
In this way, metallic nanostructures can boost the absorption of light in a solar cell's photoactive material. Materials with enhanced light absorption allow production of cells with less base material, making them thinner and cheaper.
Imec News Release
BC Systems Introduces GaN-based Military RF Power Amplifier
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 30, 2010...BC Systems, of Setauket, New York USA, has introduced an RF power amplifier designed for defense applications requiring a compact device covering
a broadband frequency of 20 to 305 MHz and having RF output power of at least 100 W in Class AB operation.
The Model RF40015 reportedly combines gallium nitride (GaN) RF power transistors with the company’s design and fabrication techniques. According to the company, the device delivers high RF power density in a module measuring only 5.5 x 4.5 x 1.6 in and weighing less than 2 lb. BC Systems boasts that it has extremely fast blanking speed of less than 5 µs for excellent noise performance and low standby power consumption, as well as efficiency of at least 30%, and the ability to deliver its full RF power output into VSWR of 2.5:1.
The amplifier incorporates a custom DC-to-DC converter that BC Systems says is highly efficient, allowing the amplifier to operate from a 26 to 30 VDC power source. BC Systems says that the unit is fully protected for over-current and over-voltage conditions, and has an operating temperature range of -20o C to +85o C (-45o C to +95o C non-operating). It can be specified with an integrated low-power sampling port for RF output monitoring as well as a directional coupler.
BC Systems says it can customize the DA Module to meet various military standards and parameters such as operating frequency range, mounting configurations, and connector type.
Company News Release Purdue University Orders Aixtron Black Magic Tool
CompoundSemi News StaffMarch 30, 2010...Aixtron of Aachen, Germany reports that Purdue University has ordered the Aixtron Black Magic deposition system. The system will be used in the university's Birck Nanotechnology Center in West Lafayette, Indiana USA. The 187,000 sq. ft., Birck Nanotechnology Center opened in July 2005 at an estimated cost of $58 million. It includes a 25,000 sq. ft. Class 1-10-100 nanofabrication cleanroom – the Scifres Nanofabrication Laboratory.
According to Aixtron, the order is for a 2 inch wafer configuration system for the deposition of carbon nanomaterials and high-k oxides by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Aixtron says it received the order in the fourth quarter of 2009, and the system will be delivered in the second quarter of 2010.
Associate Professor Peide Ye of Purdue University, acknowledged the Army Research Office's support of this project through the US Department of Defense’s DURIP program. He commented, “The Black Magic CVD/PECVD platform is vital to our ongoing advanced CMOS device characterization research projects. This first-of-a-kind dual-configuration CVD system will allow us to not only to carry out CNT and graphene deposition but also to prepare high-k oxides by ALD in-situ. Having this unique capability at Birck means that we will be able to optimize carbon/oxide-based materials for the next-generation device channels. The advantage of preparing the oxide in-situ directly after channel growth is that it potentially eliminates contamination and trapped charge, leading to cleaner channel/oxide interfaces and better device performance.”
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