• Today's news
• Company
  News Releases
• Search
• Events
• CS Stocks
• Comics

Cambrios Technologies Selects Ascent Solar as PV Partner for Department of Defense Contract

April 13, 2010...Ascent Solar of Thornton, Colorado USA reports that Cambrios Technologies Corporation, a developer of wet-processed, transparent conductive films, has selected Ascent to help investigate how these films can be applied to lightweight, flexible copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaics. This topic is part of a recently-awarded United States Army contract W911QY-BAA-09-11-1 from the U.S. Army's Natick research facility.

Cambrios will deliver flexible solar cells that incorporate a Cambrios ClearOhm electrode layer as part of the program undertaken on behalf of the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), C. It is expected that these cells will be 1 to 3 percent more efficient than the equivalent cells made with the conventional transparent electrode material. Ascent Solar points out that the U.S. military is the single largest consumer of energy in the world, and energy supply is an important issue for each and every soldier. The U.S. Military has widely deployed Solar energy to power permanent and temporary military installations and to reduce the weight carried by soldiers, Ascent Solar indicated. Ascent insists that flexible cells can allow them to be more easily deployed on a variety of surfaces such as tents, clothing, and backpacks.

"Ascent Solar has very high efficiency CIGS solar cells so they are the perfect partner for this program," said Cambrios CEO Dr. Michael Knapp. "Unlike transparent conductive oxides typically used as thin film solar cell electrodes, Cambrios' ClearOhm material is also highly flexible." Ascent Solar News Release

April 13, 2010...Aixtron AG of Aachen, Germany reports that Changelight Co. Ltd., of China has ordered two additional MOCVD tools for the production of red, orange, and yellow (ROY) ultra-high brightness LEDs. The order which was for two AIX 2600G3 IC multiwafer production systems, was placed in the fourth quarter of 2009 and both systems will be shipped in the second quarter of 2010. A year ago, Changelight received its first AIX 2600G3 Planetary Reactor system.

Prof. Wang Xiang Wu, General Manager Changelight, who has a decade of experience working on Planetary MOCVD reactors, commented, “The addition of a further pair of AIX 2600G3 systems will underpin the next step in our company strategy to become the leader of the Chinese optoelectronics industry. They will provide a major capacity boost for UHB ROY LED products – we are already a leader in UHB ROY LED products and now Changelight is working hard to provide the very best products for China’s solid-state lighting program. " Aixtron News Release

Taiwan Government Establishes CIGS Industry Alliance

April 13, 2010...Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on April 6th, announced the formation of the Taiwan copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) Industry Alliance, according to a Digitimes article. The alliance will reportedly attempt to promote development of CIGS thin-film PV modules in Taiwan. The alliance's goal is to reduce the average production cost to US$1/W in 2011.

The MOEA indicated in the article that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and AU Optronics (AUO) in addition to several suppliers of CIGS materials and equipment, and module makers have joined the alliance. The MOEA says that the alliance serve as a platform for sharing information and cooperation to help the industry bring together resources and technological capabilities.

In the first phase the alliance plans to develop key materials and equipment from July 2010 to the end of 2011. Then during the second phase, the MOEA reportedly plans to integrate to offer turnkey production lines by the end of 2012.

IBM to Collaborate on Concentrator Photovoltaic-Powered Water Desalination Project
CompoundSemi News Staff

April 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

Intevac to Provide Applied Quantum Technology with Manufacturing Equipment for Low-cost CIGS Production
CompoundSemi News Staff

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

Solyndra updates risks in their roadmap to profitability
CompoundSemi News Staff

April 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 Staff

April 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