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IMS Research Says Companies Supplying MOCVD Systems to LED Makers Based in China, Have Bright Outlook
CompoundSemi News Staff

May 16, 2011...IMS Research published its Quarterly "MOCVD Results and Updated Forecast for Q1 of 2011". The company says that MOCVD installations were down for Q1 of 2011 after 7-quarter streak of sequential growth. IMS Research says that MOCVD reactor shipments fell 18 percent from Q4 of 2010 to Q1 of 2011. However, MOCVD reactor shipments rose 31 percent year over year to 194 units. Gallium nitride LEDs were the dominant application with a 97 percent share of reactor shipments for the year.

IMS Research says that China dominated the GaN MOCVD market, accounting for a 74 percent share, up from 64 percent with Taiwan maintaining a 20 percent share. Veeco reportedly led the market in terms of MOCVD reactor shipments in China and Europe while Aixtron LED in Taiwan and the USA. The company says that the top 3 and 7 of the top 10 MOCVD customers in Q1’11 installed tools in China.  

Veeco rose one point to 44 percent of total MOCVD reactor shipments and maintained its 44 percent of the GaN MOCVD market. Aixtron lost a point of market share in total MOCVD reactor shipments from 53 percent to 52 percent and maintained a 53% share of the GaN MOCVD market.

IMS Research predicts that China will more than double its share of the MOCVD to 75 percent in 2011, up from 36 percent in 2010. The company forecasts that the number of MOCVD tools shipped to China will almost double to 820, up 181 percent from 2010.

May 16, 2011...The U.S. Department of Energy is conditionally committing to a $90.6 million loan guarantee for Cogentrix of Alamosa, Colorado. The loan guarantee will support the construction of the 30 MW Alamosa Solar Generating Project, a high concentration solar photovoltaic (HCPV) generation project in south-central Colorado near the city of Alamosa. Cogentrix estimates the project will create about 75 construction jobs and 10 operations jobs. The company expects that the project will source over 80 percent of its components from the U.S.

The project will use HCPV systems consisting of concentrating optics and multi-junction solar cell panels, which are controlled with a dual-axis tracking system that rotates and tilts the cells throughout the day so the surface of the solar panel maintains an optimal angle with respect to the sun. The DOE says that the multi-junction solar cells are nearly 40 percent efficient or about double that of more traditional PV panels. The electric output of the project will go to Public Service Company of Colorado. The facility will produce approximately 75,000 megawatt hours of clean renewable energy per year, enough to power over 6,500 homes.

"Colorado has long been a leader in the development and deployment of renewable energy, and this project builds on that record," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "By deploying an innovative, commercially-ready technology at utility scale, the Alamosa Solar Generating Project is increasing the generation of clean, renewable power, creating jobs and strengthening the U.S. economy."

Veeco Opens New Customer Support & Training Center in Shanghai to Support LED Industry
LIGHTimes News Staff

May 10, 2011...MOCVD tool maker, Veeco Instruments reports that it has officially opened its China Training Center (CTC) in Shanghai. The new center is part of the company's expansion which commenced last fall. It will be used to support the rapid growth of the LED industry and the needs of Veeco's customers in the region. Many honored guests, including several of Veeco’s key Chinese LED customers and important local government officials attended the grand opening.

The CTC site is about 1700 square meters in size and houses approximately 40 Veeco employees. It has three classrooms as well as Veeco’s market leading TurboDisc® K465i™ MOCVD system. Training will include TurboDisc MOCVD system introduction, epitaxial process characterization, and more advanced hands-on training classes in hardware maintenance and trouble-shooting. Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members...

Compound Semiconductor Market Players Diversifying, Strategy Analytics Says
CompoundSemi News Staff

May 9, 2011...Market research firm, Strategy Analytics says that although the handset portion of compoundsemiconductor market continues to make the most revenue, companies are diversifying into infrastructure, broadband, and military applications. Strategy Analytics recently published its report titled, “Compound Semiconductor Industry Review March 2011: Microelectronics.” The company says that the latest report captures March 2011 product, financial, contract and technology announcements for microelectronic companies such as RFMD, Skyworks Solutions, Hittite Microwave, Anadigics, TriQuint Semiconductor Analog Devices and NXP. Straegy Analytics also notes that these companies have all announced new products in recent months. “The handset market continues to drive compound semiconductor volume, but rapid price erosion poses a challenge for suppliers,” noted Eric Higham, Director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service. “The March product announcements show activity aimed at CATV, fiber, military and test and measurement markets, as companies try to capture higher margin opportunities.” Asif Anwar, Director, Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice added, “Some companies are expanding product lines into defense and broadband, which uses new processes to diversify market penetration.”

Emcore Enters Long-Term Multi-Junction Solar Supply Agreement With Space Systems/Loral
CompoundSemi News Staff

May 9, 2011...Emcore Corporation based in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, reports that it has entered into a long-term supply agreement with Space Systems/Loral (SS/L). The agreement is to manufacture and deliver high-efficiency, space hardened, multi-junction solar cells for Space Systems/Loral's commercial satellite programs. Emcore's mult-junction solar cells boast a solar to electric conversion efficiency of nearly 30 percent.

Emcore says that the multi-year contract represents the second largest award in company history. The agreement is subject to certain terms and conditions, including a provision allowing SS/L to terminate the agreement for convenience. Production of the solar cells will take place at Emcore's manufacturing facilities located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"Emcore has been a highly reliable partner in helping us deliver some of the world's most powerful satellites to our customers," said Vivian Mackintosh, Vice President of Materiel at Space Systems/Loral. "We can count on Emcore for the highest quality solar cells delivered on time and priced fairly."

"We are extremely proud of Space Systems/Loral's choice of Emcore to supply multi-junction solar cells for all SS/L flight missions," said Christopher Larocca, Chief Operating Officer of Emcore. "Emcore has delivered more than 800,000 solar cells to Space Systems/Loral over the past decade, and this agreement further strengthens our successful long-term relationship."

Dow Electronic Materials Wins Epistar’s First-Ever Supplier Award for Supply of Metalorganic Precursors
LIGHTimes News Staff

May 5, 2011...Dow Electronic Materials, a business unit of Dow Advanced Materials, announced that Epistar Corporation, a leading high brightness LED epiwafer and chip maker, has awarded its first-ever Supplier Award to the Metalorganic Technologies business of Dow Electronic Materials. Dow Electronic Materials supplies Epistar with metalorganic precursors for the manufacture of high brightness LEDs. These precursors to the LED market include trimethyl gallium (TMGa), which is used to create the electroluminescent films in LED chips through a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.

Epistar recognized Dow Electronic Materials for ensuring the supply of precursor materials, improving product quality, providing excellent material and process support for manufacturing, offering superior customer communications and achieving high customer satisfaction. Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members...

Samsung and Evident Technologies Enter Into LED Patent Agreement
LIGHTimes News Staff

May 5, 2011...Evident Technologies Inc. of Troy, New York USA, and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd have entered into a comprehensive patent licensing and purchasing agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung will have worldwide access to Evident's quantum dot LED technology and patent portfolio related to quantum dot LEDs from manufacture of the quantum dot nanomaterials to final LED production.

"We are excited that Samsung, the leader in consumer electronics, has licensed our quantum dot technology," said Dr. Clint Ballinger, CEO of Evident Technologies. "We already enjoy a terrific working relationship and look forward to the future of this technology."

Evident Technologies reports that it is currently focused on developing next-generation thermoelectric applications using their core quantum dot material technology. "Our goal is to greatly increase the performance of thermoelectric devices through our nano-material advances," says Dr. Ballinger. Thermoelectric devices can be used for solid-state heating and cooling as well as for converting waste heat into electricity directly.

Nanosolar Commits to Up to 1 GW of CIGS Solar Utility Panels
CompoundSemi News Staff

May 2, 2011...Nanosolar reports that it has signed long-term supply agreements for up to one gigawatt of its Utility Panel supply with Belectric of Kolitzheim, Germany; EDF Energies Nouvelles of Paris, France; and Plain Energy of Munich, Germany. Nanosolar, a maker of thin-film CIGS solar cells based in San Jose, California USA, has worked with each of the three companies since 2008. Each of the supply agreements range from a three to six year term. Nanosolar boasts of both its solar cell technology and its proprietary roll-to-roll printing techniques.

These long-term strategic Nanosolar partners, which are large and experienced installers of thin film panels in Europe, will utilize the Nanosolar Utility Panel to expand their solar power plant developments. in total the agreements may account for up to one gigawatt of committed module deliveries for Nanosolar. Nanosolar plans to raise it production capacity to 115MW by the fall of 2011. The company plans to double its production capacity each year after.

"Nanosolar's industrial printing approach to manufacturing its utility-scale panel combined with its lower balance-of-systems costs will allow solar to be cost competitive with fossil fuels," said Bernhard Beck, CEO Belectric. "We look forward to combining Belectric's state-of-the-art, low-cost installation methods with the Nanosolar Utility Panel to further drive down the cost of solar power plants."

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