News

27 October 2009

 

CIGS PV maker Ascent Solar unveils FlexPower module product line

At this week’s Solar Power International 09 event in Anaheim, CA, Ascent Solar Technologies Inc of Thornton, CO, USA, which manufactures flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules based on copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), is announcing the availability of its FlexPower line of products.

Ascent claims that the FlexPower class of modules, which includes Light, Mobile and Extreme, has an industry-leading power-to-weight ratio, achieves the highest power density of any flexible product on the market, and provides a unique form-fit capability.

Picture: The FlexPower Light line features a 5m-long product that delivers.

FlexPower Light modules are manufactured for the building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market. The range features a 5m-long product that delivers power of 123W and is claimed to be the world’s largest monolithically interconnected flexible module. Manufacturers of building materials and BIPV systems can use the FlexPower Light class for large-area BIPV installations and seamless integration into building surfaces.

FlexPower Mobile is designed for the electronic-integrated photovoltaic (EIPV) market. The modules are optimized for 12V battery-charging applications, allow integration into consumer electronics, and are available encapsulated or unencapsulated as a build-to-suit solution.

FlexPower Extreme is a durable and deployable photovoltaic solution for defense applications, and is designed to provide excellent power density and to match existing battery-recharging ecosystems (allowing for more supply-line independence).

“Our ability to manufacture monolithically integrated flexible CIGS modules provides a unique and enabling solution to various premium market opportunities,” says Ascent Solar's president & CEO Farhad Moghadam. “FlexPower is not only a brand name, but it also best represents our manufacturing capability,” he adds.

Ascent to supply modules to FTL for NYSERDA project

Late last week, Ascent Solar said that it is to provide modules to New York-based FTL Solar for their R&D contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The parties will collaborate on the development of light-weight flexible structures that include energy production from solar electric modules produced by Ascent Solar.

FTL Solar claims that its patent-pending products are the world's first pre-fabricated, mass-produced photovoltaic tensile structures. integrate thin-film PVs with super-strength fabric to create architecturally refined solar canopies, arrays and enclosures. “We are confident their light-weight flexible high-power modules will work well with our existing products as well as future products currently in our product development pipeline,” says FTL Solar’s chief technology officer Robert Lerner.

NYSERDA is investing $250,000 towards the $500,000 FTL project, which is developing a “unique product with so many real-world, right-now applications,” says NYSERDA president & CEO Francis J. Murray Jr. “Because of its physical attributes and application flexibility, shade and electricity can be realized just about anywhere,” he adds. “From a New York perspective, the potential for this firm [FTL] to bring product development and manufacturing to the Empire State is very encouraging and supports Governor Paterson's goal to attract clean energy efficiency manufacturing jobs to our state.”

The development work will be carried out under a $22,500 collaborative agreement between FTL Solar and the Center for Autonomous Solar at Binghamton University and Binghamton's Center for Advanced Microelectronic Manufacturing at Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc in Endicott, NY.

“FTL Solar has developed a variety of multi-purpose solar-integrated flexible tensile structures,” says Ascent Solar's president & CEO Farhad Moghadam. “These structures are ideally suited for the incorporation of Ascent Solar’s high-energy, flexible and light-weight photovoltaic modules.” The relationship with FTL and NYSERDA presents an opportunity to embed Ascent's modules into a wide range of structures serving various market segments, he adds. “FTL Solar has the expertise and deep history in developing these unique products and Ascent Solar has the ability to power them.”

See related item:

CIGS PV maker Ascent reaches 14% cell efficiency in commercial production

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