DOE Finalizes SSL Program and Stimulus Monies
SSLDesign News StaffJuly 1, 2009...The US Department of Energy recently finalized the ongoing energy efficient lighting programs and mandates that have been in the works since 2007. Under Energy Secretary Stephen Chu, the DOE has also added some $50 million in new funding from the Recovery Act to the existing DOE programs.
Contrary to what several news sources and press releases seem to imply, while some additional monies have been added under the Recovery Act, the Obama administration has specified the use of $346 million appropriated by congress for energy efficiency programs that actually date back to the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, which amended for the second time the 1975 Energy Policy Conservation Act. That act established a national energy conservation program for household appliances. This program was first amended in 1992 and then again in 2007 with the 2007 Energy Indepedence and Security Act (EISA).
(Ref: Statutory Authority of Appliance and Commercial Equipment Standards).
Among the many provisions, the EISA legislates a phase out of incandescent bulbs in the United States. The EISA 2007 also requires that the Secretary of Energy to develop a unit sales forecast for 2010-2025 for five lamp types exempt from the general service incandescent lamp standards.
Stephen Chu made this sales forecast available.
Of the $50 million appropriated for solid state lighting research and development, $8 million is for Round IV of the Solid State Lighting Core Technologies program; Another $11.5 million is for Round VI of the Solid State Lighting Product Development program, and some $22 million of it is for Round I of Manufacturing for US. Solid State Lighting, which aims to reduce manufacturing costs through improved equipment, processes, and techniques. RFMD and NREL to Collaborate on Solar Cell Manufacturing
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 1, 2009...RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD) of Greensboro, North Carolina USA will be working with the department of energy on a solar project. The purpose of the collaboration is to develop a commercially viable and high volume-capable compound semiconductor-based process for high-performance photovoltaic (PV) cells.
Under the terms of a Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA), NREL's s knowledge and innovation experience with solar technology will be combined with RFMD's technical expertise in volume manufacturing of compound semiconductors at RFMD's wafer fabrication facilities (fab). RFMD says that the purpose of project is to develop a production capable process technology for high-performance photovoltaic (PV) cells.
RFMD says that the successful execution of the multi-year CRADA is expected to result in the production of PV cells in its high-volume compound semiconductor fabs, as early as calendar year 2012. NREL's multi-junction solar concentrator technology has reportedly demonstrated one of the world's highest reported solar cell conversion efficiencies at 40.8 percent. RFMD says that it and the NREL expect to continue substantial improvements in efficiency.
"Working with RFMD to commercialize PV cells will help us realize our laboratory's mission of developing and commercializing advanced, next-generation energy technologies," said NREL Director Dan Arvizu.
Bob Bruggeworth, president and CEO of RFMD, said, "We expect our expertise and scale will positively impact the market for concentrated photovoltaic cells, and we are proud to support our national efforts related to clean energy."
RFMD News Release
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DuPont and U.S. Dept. of Energy Partner on Thin Film Solar Program
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 1, 2009...DuPont reports that it is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy on a $9 million solar research program. The funding for the program comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed earlier this year with the support of U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman.
DuPont will provide $6 million and the DOE will contribute $3 million to the program.
DuPont is one of about 25 technology companies nationwide receiving Recovery Act grants totalling $22 million to research or demonstrate photovoltaic projects. The federal agency's goal is for the solar technology to contribute equally to the power grid by 2015.
According to Dupont, the three-year program is designed to accelerate commercialization of an ultra-thin protective film that the company boasts is more than 3,000 times thinner than a human hair. The protective film prevents moisture from degrading the performance of thin-film PV modules such as copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS).
According to the company, the first focus of the program is on CIGS thin-film PV modules, however, the technology could be leveraged into other PV technologies and potentially into other industries.
DuPont News Release Solibro AB Becomes Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Q-Cells SE
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 29, 2009...Q-Cells SE, a producer of silicon-based thin-film solar cells headquartered in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany, has purchased the Swedish joint venture and CIGS technology company, Solibro AB.
Q-Cells notes that currently, Solibro's modules achieve an average efficiency rating per module of around 10% with the peak values in excess of 11%.
Solibro GmbH was formed as a joint venture by Q-Cells and Solibro AB at the end of 2006 to commercialize a CIGS thin- film technology developed at the University of Uppsala.
Solibro GmbH will now become a fully consolidated, wholly owned subsidiary of Q-Cells SE rather than an investment carried at equity.
Q-Cells will own 100 percent of Solibro AB stock after trading 3,988,170 shares of Q-Cells SE with Solibro GmbH and others of the pension fund, "6th Swedish National Pension Fund" for the shares of Solibro AB. 50 percent of the Q-Cells shares are subject to a lock-up period of 180 days.
"The potential of Solibro's thin-film modules lies in the combination of high efficiency ratings with extremely low costs per watt. After we successfully implemented this potential in mass production as well, Solibro became an integral component of Q-Cells' thin-film strategy," said Dr. Florian Holzapfel, member of the Executive Board of Q-Cells SE and Head of the New Technologies division. Q-Cells News Release Fraunhofer Institute Orders Aixtron MOCVD Tool for Multi-junction Solar Cell Development
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 29, 2009...Aixtron reports that the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) of Freiburg, Germany ordered an Aixtron MOCVD tool for mult-junction solar cell development. The institute placed the order for the AIX 2800G4-R MOCVD tool with automated wafer handler in the 8x6 inch configuration. Aixtron says that the system will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009. Aixtron notes that the the purchase was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (the BMBF) and the Fraunhofer Society. According to Aixtron, the new tool will form the centerpiece of a program to develop and produce next generation triple- and multi-junction solar cells in cooperation with industrial partners.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) reportedly researches the technology required to provide energy efficiently and on an environmentally sound basis in industrialized, threshold, and developing countries. Dr Frank Dimroth, head of the III-V Epitaxy and Solar Cells group at the Fraunhofer ISE commented, “ I was impressed by the improvements which have been made in the reactor design compared to our current AIX 2600G3 system. The new Aixtron technology allows us to transfer our R&D processes up to high-volume mass-production which is a prime target for our development project.”
Aixtron News Release Comtech Telecommunications Wins $1.3 Million Power Amplifier Order to Expand Direct-to-Home Internet Service
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 29, 2009...Comtech Telecommunications Corp. reported that its Santa Clara, California-based subsidiary, Comtech Xicom Technology, Inc., received an order for $1.3M in high-power traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA) equipment for satellite communications. The TWTAs will reportedly support uplink transmission for direct-to-home (DTH) high-speed Internet access over satellite.
According to Comtech, the high-power TWTAs are designed to operate in the emerging Ka-band frequency, which is well-suited for DTH applications. The Ka-band reportedly offers extended bandwidth, making it ideal for high data rate applications such as video and always-on Internet access.
Comtech boasts that Xicom offers the most cost-effective and reliable solution for SATCOM, and provides the end-users flexibility to grow their business. The company's product range encompasses power levels from 8W to 3 kW, with frequency coverage in sub-bands within the 2 GHz to 45.5 GHz spectrum. The company offers amplifiers for fixed and ground-based, ship-board, and airborne mobile applications.
Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech Telecommunications Corp., commented, "The business case for outdoor TWTA's in DTH uplinks is truly compelling. DTH providers can capture an immediate benefit from this solution in lower acquisition and upgrade costs, meaningful reductions in electricity usage, and minimal facilities impacts. "
Company News Release Emcore Awarded Contracts From Air Force Research Laboratory and PNM
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 24, 2009...Emcore Corporation, a solar power innovator based in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA reports that it has been awarded a $5.7 million cost-plus fixed-fee contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory. Emcore was also awarded a 20-year contract from the PNM, New Mexico's largest electricity provider for PNM's distributed generation solar power program.
The contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, is for the development of high-efficiency photovoltaic solar cells.
Under the two year contract, Emcore will demonstrate high efficiency solar cells for space applications and investigate advanced photovoltaic devices based on inverted metamorphic (IMM) structures. The contract also includes a an additional twelve-month award of $3.4 million for advanced IMM development once the base contract has been completed. Funding for the entire contract has been appropriated.
Emcore News Release.
The 20-year agreement with PNM consists of 114 kilowatts of solar power produced for 2nd and 3rd generation concentrator photovoltaics onsite at Emcore's corporate headquarters in Albuquerque.
The electric power will come from Emcore's 2nd and 3rd generation concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) systems installed next to its Albuquerque facility. The power is fed to Emcore's buildings through a PNM-approved REC meter. This is reportedly the company's first distributed generation application.
"This is a significant milestone in advancing solar power applications for both Emcore and PNM. The DG program allows power to be generated close to the point of use and distributed without requiring a comprehensive transmission infrastructure," Christopher Larocca commented.
Emcore News Release Fujitsu Makes GaN HEMT to Improve Power Supply Efficiency
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 24, 2009...Fujitsu announced a new gallium nitride-based high electron mobility transistor that it says minimizes power loss in power supplies.
The company says that this results in reduced power consumption of electronic equipment such as IT hardware and home electronics. According to Fujitsu, the new technology blocks the flow of current from power supplies in stand-by mode and produces high-density current when turned on (on-state current)(3), and has the potential to cut power consumption of electronic equipment by one-third. If applied to data centers, Fujitsu's new GaN HEMT would be able to reduce total power consumption by 12%.
The company says that power lost as heat can account for up to 30% or more of the power lost from an electronic device such as a laptop, and in some cases additional power is required for cooling equipment.
Details of this technology were presented at the Device Research Conference 2009 (DRC 2009) being held at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, U.S. from June 22 to 24.
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