Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Thu, October 7, 2010
Wed, October 6, 2010
BEDFORD, Mass.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Spire Semiconductor, LLC, ] a wholly owned subsidiary of [ SpireCorporation ] (Nasdaq: SPIR), has produced a world record efficiency concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar cell. The 0.97cm2 cell was measured by the U.S. Department of Energya™s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to have a peak efficiency of 42.3% at 406 suns AM1.5D, 25C (42.2% at 500 suns).
"We are pleased to reach the record high CPV cell efficiency. The availability of this new high-efficiency cell will advance next-generation CPV system performance and reduce system cost for manufacturers, helping to move solar energy ever closer to the goal of grid parity."
Edward D. Gagnon, General Manager of Spire Semiconductor, LLC, stated, aIn early 2009, Spire Semiconductor was awarded an NREL Photovoltaic (PV) Incubator subcontract to develop a high efficiency triple junction, gallium arsenide (GaAs) cell. In less than 18 months, we were able to validate and incorporate our new concept into a production-ready cell design with world-record efficiency. This is a remarkable achievement by our technical team. NREL has been extremely helpful during the entire program, with timely responses to our confirmation requests for accurate efficiency measurements. Their continued support enabled us to validate our new bi-facial cell architecture. This higher efficiency, next generation GaAs CPV cell platform is now available commercially to the concentrator systems providers.a
Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation, said, aWe are pleased to reach the record high CPV cell efficiency. The availability of this new high-efficiency cell will advance next-generation CPV system performance and reduce system cost for manufacturers, helping to move solar energy ever closer to the goal of grid parity.a
About National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.
About Spire Corporation
[ Spire Corporation ] is a global solar company providing capital equipment and turnkey production lines to manufacture PV cells and modules. Spire Semiconductor, LLC offers concentrator solar cells to the CPV industry.
Certain matters described in this press release may be forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk of dependence on market growth, competition and dependence on government agencies and other third parties for funding contract research and services, as well as other factors described in the Company's Form10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
