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Strategy Analytics Predicts GaN Use to Grow in RF and Power Management Applications Over Several Years
CompoundSemi News Staff

April 28, 2010...Market analysis company, Strategy Analytics (SA) predicts that deployments in electronic warfare, next-generation radar and covert communications will represent nearly 50% of the $376M market for GaN microelectronic components in 2014. SA reports that adoption of GaN components in wireless infrastructure has been sluggish.

Asif Anwar, director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Service, suggests that power management will be an important new market for GaN microelectronic components. Such devices include: SMPSs (switched-mode power supplies), DC-DC converters, and DC motor drives found in home appliances, electric vehicles, industrial automation systems, telecommunications equipment, and electric lawnmowers. “Much depends on the success of new entrants targeting applications in power management,” said Asif Anwar. “After the initial launch of these products in the opening quarter of 2010, we expect a number of major suppliers to enter the market over the next two years, prior to significant RF deployments in wireless infrastructure from 2012 onwards.”

The “GaN Microelectronics Market Update 2009-2014” report, details the increasing impact that GaN semiconductors will have on power management applications. The complementary report, “GaN Device and Material Vendor Summary,” reveals the strategies of companies supplying GaN-based products for military and commercial applications. Both reports are available for download now at http://tinyurl.com/sa00868.

Steve Entwistle, VP of the Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice, commented, “GaN has already cemented its place in the optoelectronics market, and is now emerging as a key enabling technology for the commercial microelectronics sector."

April 28, 2010...First Solar of Tempe, Arizona USA, reports that it will be acquiring NextLight Renewable Power, LLC after the companies entered into a definitive agreement. First Solar will gain a 1,100 megawatt (MW) solar project pipeline for NextLight Renewable Power, a leading developer of utility-scale solar projects in the southwestern United States. First Solar will purchase the company in a $285 million all cash transaction that is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2010, pending the satisfaction of certain closing conditions specified in the merger agreement. The transaction represents another step in First Solar's expansion in the U.S. utility-scale power market, which began in 2007 with the acquisition of Turner Renewable Energy and continued with the acquisitions of solar project pipelines from OptiSolar in 2009 and Edison Mission Group in 2010.

Of the acquired 1,100 MW solar project pipeline, 570MW (AC) is under signed power purchase agreements with western utilities. First Solar indicated that this increases its contracted photovoltaic (PV) solar project pipeline to 2,200MW. The acquired project pipeline from NextLight also includes 530MW (AC) of additional PV projects in various stages of development. NextLight's projects reportedly ranging in size from 30MW to 290MW. They are largely located on private land.

"NextLight has assembled a project pipeline that very much complements First Solar's project portfolio. We are looking forward to having the highly experienced NextLight team join First Solar," said Rob Gillette, First Solar chief executive officer.

LED Epiwafer Producing Joint Venture Partners from Mainland China and Taiwan Place Large Order for Aixtron MOCVD Tool
LIGHTimes News Staff

April 27, 2010...In a sign of the growing cooperation between mainland China and Taiwan, Formosa Epitaxy (FOREPI) of Taiwan is taking part in a joint venture with Jiang Su Can Yang of mainland China for the production of ultra high brightness LEDs. Jiang Su Can Yang reportedly placed a large order for more more Planetary and Showerhead HB-GaN LED MOCVD tools from Aixtron in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Planetary Reactor systems were ordered in a 11x4 inch configuration, and the Close Coupled Showerhead tools were put in a 31x2 inch configuration for the order that will be delivered between the second and the fourth quarter of 2010. Aixtron indicated that its local support team will commission the new reactors at the new FOREPI purpose-built facility in Jiang Su province, PR China.

Dr. Frank Chien, CEO FOREPI commented, “We have aggressive plans for our joint venture in Jiang Su province, PR China with a total of fifty systems to be in place within the next three years. The excellent performance we have received from our existing Planetary and Showerhead systems from Aixtron at FOREPI in Taiwan have translated directly into high quality product performance, yield, and cost of ownership. Specifically, the new reactors in this latest order are destined not only for a new facility but also a new application research topic. Therefore, as these plans unfold the new joint venture in China will allow us to be very close to many of our customers increasing production capacity and to meet their future needs in new device technology. Working in partnership with Aixtron support team we can bring these tools onstream quickly ramping up HB GaN LED epiwafer production in response to strong local market demand.”

MiaSole to Supply CIGS Modules to Phoenix Solar After Signing Multi-Year Framework Agreement
CompoundSemi News Staff

April 28, 2010...MiaSole will now be a supplier of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin film solar cells to Phoenix Solar AG, a photovoltaic integrator, after the companies signed a framework agreement. In the context of this agreement, which runs until 2013, Phoenix Solar has ordered an initial 4.5 MWp of thin-film modules from MiaSole for delivery in the second quarter of 2010. The framework agreement includes a recycling warranty where required by regulation or financing: At the end of the solar modules' lifetimes, the customer has the option of having MiaSole recycle or reconditioned them.

MiaSole says its production process applies different layers of copper, indium, gallium and selenium on a metal foil. This substrate is then divided into cell-like sections and laminated between two hardened glass plates. The frameless glass-glass module can be used for roofs or ground-mounted systems and can withstand high wind and snow loads. According to MiaSole, the process allows for almost any module shapes to be manufactured, increasing the potential for cost savings. MiaSole points out that CIGS has achieved the highest covnersion efficiency among all commercial thin-film technologies in the laboratory . Miasole module has an efficiency of 10.5, and a higher efficiency product is to be shipped at the end of 2010.

"We welcome MiaSole to our group of strategical suppliers with whom we work closely to extract maximum synergy effects as a means of continuously driving down system costs," said Manfred Bachler, Chief Technology Officer at Phoenix Solar AG.

Seoul Optodevice and Sanan Optoelectronics to Boost HB-LED Production with New Veeco MOCVD Systems
LIGHTimes News Staff

April 27, 2010...Veeco Instruments of Plainview, New York USA reports that Seoul Optodevice Co., Ltd. (SOC) of Korea has selected Veeco's TurboDisc(R) K465i gallium nitride (GaN) Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) System to expand their manufacturing capacity of high brightness LEDs. Veeco notes that addition to orders placed in 2009, SOC placed a multi-tool order during the second quarter of 2010. All the tools are currently scheduled for shipment during 2010.

Sanan Optoelectronics Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of full color LEDs in China, has placed a large multi-tool order for Veeco's K465i and E475 TurboDisc Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) Systems. The equipment is reportedly for Sanan's new LED fab in Wuhu, Anhui Province for the manufacturing of high brightness LEDs. Veeco booked the order earlier this month.

According to Veeco, the K465i system has wavelength uniformity and excellent run-to-run repeatability. Additionally, Veeco says that the system is very capital efficient, producing many good wafers per day for each capital dollar. Veeco says that the K465i is easily tuned for fast process optimization on wafer sizes up to 8 inches. Seyong Oh, Ph.D., CEO of SOC, commented, "This new order ensures that we can continue to increase output of our market-leading HB LEDs with the industry's highest yields. Seyong Oh added, "We believe that Veeco's MOCVD systems offer the lowest cost-of-ownership tools on the market, and their support is excellent."

Drive to Make Consumer Products Smarter About Energy Consumption and California Smart Electronics Act Bill
Scott McMahan, SSLightingDesign News Editor

April 26, 2010...California, a U.S. state which is often at the forefront of establishing environmental and conservation laws and regulations, is home to a Representative Michael Honda of the state legislature. Michael Honda, a State House Representative of California District 15 introduced a bill to make consumer electronics smarter in terms of energy consumption and conservation. The bill called, the "Smart Electronics Act" H.R. 5070. which was introduced last week, hopes to add energy consumption management methods and technologies to individual consumer electronic devices.

Marvell Semiconductors supports the bill. Sehat Sutardja, Chairman, president and CEO of Marvell Semiconductors, Inc. stated, "Every year, people around the world consume energy from billions of new electronic products—from smartphones, to tablet computers to televisions. All our efforts to make energy consumption more efficient through 'smart grids' and 'smart meters' are wasted if we still have dumb products. The Smart Electronics Act is landmark legislation that will ensure that those new products are more energy efficient and earth-friendly, reducing our resource demands and carbon footprint for generations to come."

From lights that stay on when no one is around, to DSL and WiFi routers that are always on, to to clock's, stereos, microwaves, and other consumer electronics, all these devices can put a invisible drain on electric power consumption. Many of them do so even when in the "Off" state. Many devices are obviously "dumb" electricity hogs, or at least "dumb" electricity sippers. Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members...

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