United Solar Announces NREL Measurement of World Record 12% Efficient Thin-Film Silicon Cell
January 31 2011 - 9:42AM
Large-Area Solar Cell Uses
Proprietary Nano-Crystalline™ Silicon Technology
Potential to Reduce Cost of
Generating Solar Electricity by 20%
United Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion
Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq:ENER) and manufacturer of UNI-SOLAR®
brand photovoltaic (PV) laminates, today announced that the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has confirmed an
initial 12% conversion efficiency of a large-area solar cell using
UNI-SOLAR's proprietary Nano-Crystalline™ silicon. To date, this is
the highest large-area cell efficiency confirmed by NREL for
thin-film silicon PV technology.
United Solar has worked with NREL for more than two decades in
the research and development of advanced thin-film PV technologies.
"I am extremely impressed with United Solar's recent breakthrough
in efficiency in thin-film silicon photovoltaics," said Dr. Ryne
Raffaelle, Director of the National Center for Photovoltaics at
NREL. "United Solar has been the unquestioned leader in their field
and one of the few PV companies in the world that can offer a true
building integrated photovoltaic product. I am very excited about
our continued collaborations."
The record-setting cell efficiency with an area of 400 square
centimeters was encapsulated in UNI-SOLAR's proprietary thin-film
polymer. UNI-SOLAR's triple-junction technology incorporates
Nano-Crystalline silicon layers on a flexible stainless steel
substrate and increases the cell's efficiency by about 50%,
relative to current UNI-SOLAR cells in production.
"This is a substantial milestone for our company as we continue
to execute on the technology roadmap we communicated in 2010," said
Dr. Subhendu Guha, Chairman of United Solar and Executive Vice
President of Photovoltaic Technology, Energy Conversion Devices.
"This world record efficiency was achieved under the U.S.
Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative Program led by
United Solar with participation from NREL and associated
universities."
United Solar's technology roadmap takes this ground-breaking
technology into commercial production in 2012. The technological
advancement drives meaningful reductions in the cost of installing
a UNI-SOLAR solar energy system and will reduce the cost of
generating solar electricity by over 20%. Ultimately, the company
expects to offer solar energy systems that are capable of providing
electricity at a cost below the utility grid.
About Energy Conversion Devices/United
Solar
Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) (Nasdaq:ENER), through its
United Solar subsidiary, is a global leader in building-integrated
and rooftop photovoltaics. The company manufactures, sells and
installs thin-film solar laminates that convert sunlight to clean,
renewable energy using proprietary technology. ECD's UNI-SOLAR®
brand products are unique because of their flexibility, light
weight, ease of installation, durability, and real-world
efficiency. The company also designs, manufactures and installs
rooftop photovoltaic systems, which enable customers to transform
unused space on the rooftop into a value-generating asset. In
addition, ECD's Ovonic Materials Division is the pioneer in NiMH
battery technology, and is developing low cost fuel cells, hydrogen
production from bioreformation, and hydrogen storage technologies.
For more information, please visit energyconversiondevices.com.
This release may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include
statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies,
future events, future net sales or performance, capital
expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions relating to
expansions, business trends and other information that is not
historical information. All forward-looking statements are based
upon information available to us on the date of this release and
are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of
which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results
to differ materially from the results discussed in the
forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause such results to
differ include: our ability to commercially produce products at
specifications achieved in the lab; our ability to maintain our
customer relationships; the worldwide demand for electricity and
the market for solar energy; the supply and price of components and
raw materials for our products; and our customers' ability to
access the capital needed to finance the purchase of our products.
The risk factors identified in the ECD filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including the company's most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,
could impact any forward-looking statements contained in this
release. ECD assumes no responsibility to update these
forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Energy Conversion Devices Investor Relations Contact:
Michael E. Schostak
Head of Investor Relations
(248) 299-6063
investor.relations@energyconversiondevices.com
United Solar Public Relations Contact:
Wendy Ventura
(248) 299-6064
pr@uni-solar.com
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