Space Industry and Business News  
Ascent Solar Wins High Efficiency Solar Cell Program

Current Ascent Solar thin film PV technology.
by Staff Writers
Littleton CO (SPX) May 10, 2007
Ascent Solar Technologies has announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to develop an innovative flexible thin film tandem solar cell with the goal of demonstrating thin film photovoltaic efficiencies of 20%. Tandem solar cells are a combination of two cells stacked atop one another, with the top and bottom cells gathering energy from separate parts of the solar spectrum.

Tandem cells require two solar cells that not only have the desired electrical and optical properties, but must also share compatible manufacturing processes. The program will be performed under a phase one Small Business Innovative Research contract.

Ascent Solar Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Joseph Armstrong stated, "This important Air Force program builds upon significant work already performed by Ascent Solar personnel in the area of wide bandgap thin-film photovoltaic technology. In particular, this program will demonstrate the ability to make solar cells using a new material system that has the potential to serve as the top cell of a new and innovative tandem solar cell configuration on which Ascent Solar has been working.

"It's like putting two efficient technologies in a hybrid car, each with its own strengths, but performing better together than either one individually. We are delighted that the U.S. Air Force selected Ascent Solar to work with it in this exciting and promising technology area."

Related Links
Ascent Solar Technologies
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Investors Moving Into Rapidly Expanding Solar Power Industry
New York NY (SPX) May 10, 2007
Demand for photovoltaic solar power, which directly converts the sun's radiation into electricity, is expected to grow by 40 per cent per year by 2011, offering opportunities for investors who can ride out near-term bumps, according to a new report from RBC Capital Markets, "Investing in Solar Now."







  • Singapore Airlines Selects Rockwell Collins Satellite Communications
  • Couch Potatoes On Track For Virtual World
  • All Of Russia Will Have Internet And Phone Access
  • Wildblue High-Speed Internet Via Satellite Triples Capacity With New Satellite

  • Ariane 5 Achieves Record Performance With Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Ariane 5 Launches Twin GEO Birds
  • Lockheed Martin-Built Astra 1L Satellite Ready For Launch
  • Arianespace And Japan Continue To Build Long-Term Relationship

  • Australia Fears Jet Flight Guilt Could Hit Tourism
  • Nondestructive Testing Keeps Bagram Aircraft Flying
  • New FAA Oceanic Air Traffic System Designed By Lockheed Martin Fully Operational
  • NASA Seeks New Research Proposals

  • General Dynamics To Provide Ku-Band Satellite On-the-Move Antenna System To Army
  • Raytheon Awarded USAF Global Broadcast Services Contract
  • Newest Navy Aircraft Unveiled by Northrop Grumman
  • TSAT Team Moves Closer To Developing Flight-Ready Laser Terminals

  • The Case For T-SAT
  • Space Tether For Satellite Navigation Sans Rocket Motors And Fuel
  • Microwave Autoclave For Composite Structure Production Is A World First At DLR
  • Designing OPRA Glasses

  • Dodgen Joins Northrop Grumman As Vice President Of Strategy For Missile Systems Business
  • Townsend To Lead Ball Aerospace Exploration Systems In Huntsville
  • NASA Nobel Prize Recipient To Lead Chief Scientist Office
  • Kathryn Kynard Plays Key Role In Ares I Upper Stage Engine Development

  • Transcontinental Wildfire Emissions Monitored From Space
  • Volcanic Eruptions In Kamchatka
  • NASA Satellite Captures Image Of Georgia Wildfires
  • US Earth-Observing Satellites In Jeopardy

  • Germany Confident EU Will Take Over Galileo Project
  • GIOVE-A Transmits First Navigation Message
  • EU To Consider Taking Over Galileo Satellite System
  • GLONASS Potential Still To Be Realised

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement