EpiWorks Demonstrates 6-Inch CS-based PV Solar Production
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 21, 2010...EpiWorks, a developer and producer of compound semi epitaxial wafers based in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, reportedly demonstrated its ability to produce 6-inch compound semi-based PV wafers. The company points out that the demonstration is the first step in establishing the infrastructure and capability to produce low-cost solar cells with the highest conversion efficiency.
“We are a high-tech manufacturer with an established track record supporting the wireless industry with volume production, but over the past several years we have also established a strong solar cell capability. As we have done with our wireless customers, EpiWorks is excited to push the industry technology roadmap while establishing this critical part of the PV wafer production supply chain," said David Ahmari, EVP of Business Development at EpiWorks.
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June 21, 2010...Skyworks Solutions of Woburn, Massachusetts USA announced what it claims is the most cost-effective complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) front-end module (FEM) for general packet radio service (GPRS) handsets. The SKY77555 is a transmit and receive FEM based on CMOS PAs for dual-band cellular handsets comprising GSM900 and DCS1800 operation.
According to Skyworks, the SKY77555, offers handset OEMs high-performance solutions for entry-level phones in an ultra-small 5 x 6 millimeter (mm) package. Skyworks says that the front-end module eliminates the need to optimize matching between the amplifier and the switch. In this way the company says it reduces customers’ time-to-market relative to other more traditional architectures, and simplifies the supply chain for high-volume, cost-sensitive phones.
To date, Skyworks says it has shipped of tens of millions of CMOS-based PAs for mobile phones, which it claims is more than all other suppliers combined.
Gregory L. Waters, Skyworks’ executive vice president and general manager for front-end solutions commented, “Our technology-agnostic approach provides our customers with a unique advantage in meeting their platform, geographic and cost needs. Looking ahead, we will continue to leverage both silicon and GaAs technology across a variety of new products, ranging from entry-phone devices to industry-leading, low-cost smart phones and 3G/4G solutions.” Solyndra Offers $175 Million in Promissory Notes to Investors and Forgoes IPO
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 21, 2010...Solyndra, a maker cylinder-shaped copper indium gallium diselenide solar modules, has chosen to offer up to $175 million in promissory notes for sale to certain of its investors to raise money. The company chose not to go ahead with its initial public offering (IPO), and withdrew its registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Solyndra also reports that it expects first production from its Fab 2 manufacturing complex to occur in the fourth quarter of 2010, approximately two months ahead of schedule.
“Given the ongoing uncertainties in the public capital markets, we elected to pursue alternative funding from our existing investor base. This funding allows us to address strong customer demand by maintaining our aggressive growth plans,” commented Dr. Chris Gronet, CEO of Solyndra.
“Fab 2 can’t come on line a minute too soon,” according to Dr. Gronet. “We’ve now sold over 300,000 panels for deployment on commercial rooftop sites in a dozen countries. By the fourth quarter of 2011, we expect our annualized production to exceed 300MW, enabling economies of scale that will substantially reduce our manufacturing costs.”
Earlier in the month Solyndra achieved microgeneration product certificatin from BRE Global Limited for sales of its solar modules in the UK Market. Also during June, LPS industries completed the largest installation of Solyndra solar cells on its specially designed "cool roof."
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MiaSole Commercial Scale Thin-Film Solar Modules Reach 13.8 Percent Efficiency
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 14, 2010...Miasole reports that that the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) independently confirmed the 13.8 percent efficiency of its copper indium gallium diselenide large area production modules (one square meter in size). The modules are designed for utilities and independent power producers in industrial scale deployments such as large-scale rooftop and ground mount installations. Miasole asserts that the new high efficiency will allow it to offer solar modules with the efficiency of polysilicon and the lower manufacturing costs of thin-film modules.
The company utilizes a unique manufacturing process which lays CIGS on a flexible stainless steel substrate in a continuous sputtering process. In fact, MiaSole boasts that it is the only thin-film solar company that uses sputtering every step of the way for coating the solar modules, thereby reducing manufacturing time and costs of production.
Dr. Joseph Laia, CEO of MiaSole stated, "The modules that we ship in 2011 will have efficiencies greater than 13%. The only reason that we are not shipping these modules today is that we are awaiting the completion of our UL certifications."
Dr. Ryne Raffaelle, Director of the National Center for Photovoltaics at NREL said, "This demonstration is a tremendous step forward in closing the gap between the potential of CIGS results, and what actually can be achieved in a large area production module."
The company says it will ship 6.5MW in the first half of this year, and it expects to ship a total of 22MW in 2010. First Solar Plans German Manufacturing Expansion
CompoundSemi News StaffJune 14, 2010...First Solar, Inc. announced plans to expand its German manufacturing plant in Frankfurt an der Oder. The plan will reportedly double the company's local production capacity and add several hundred new jobs to the more than 600
it already employs in Frankfurt (Oder) manufacturing its thin-film solar modules. First Solar says it is in advanced talks with the German regional and federal authorities to obtain the necessary permits and financial framework for the expansion. The highest value of the US dollars compared to the Euro in the past several years combined with German government incentives, apparently made the company's production expansion in Germany a very attractive option.
The company says that the expansion will double the annual capacity of the Frankfurt (Oder) manufacturing plant from 223 MW today to around 446 megawatts (MW) by the fourth quarter of 2011. It also will help increase its natural income hedge against euro/dollar exchange rate risk by producing more in Germany for European customers.
The company has three additional factories in different phases of construction in France and Malaysia. When all the factories are on line, the total capacity of the company will rise from its current level of 1.3 MW to an estimated 2.1 MW annually.
Minister President Matthias Platzeck commented, “This will create sustainable jobs. At the same time, the expansion of production capacity of solar modules will foster our top position in renewable energy and will help the state to achieve its ambitious energy and climate goals.”
Philips Lumileds Donates Aixtron MOCVD System to Support Material Science Research at UC Santa Cruz
LIGHTimes News StaffJune 11, 2010...Philips Lumileds has donated a $4.5 million MOCVD system to the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz.
The system was originally purchased by Lumileds to develop compound semiconductor materials for LEDs. Most notably, it was used in the development of Luxeon LEDs as a replacement for incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs
This major equipment donation provides important new capacities for materials science research at UCSC. The equipment will be installed in the laboratory of Nobuhiko Kobayashi, associate professor of electrical engineering, for use in his research on new materials for solid-state energy conversion devices and other applications.
The donation is Aixtron's AIX 200RF MOCVD system designed for the production of group III-V compound semiconductors with highly uniform layered structures. Aixtron boasts that the system's laminar flow design eliminates turbulence and allows precise control of the chemical compositions of semiconductor thin films to help ensuring sharp interfaces between layers. Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members... Our news features are reported
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