9 November 2011

Ascent selects student teams for prototype portable solar power design competition

Ascent Solar Technologies Inc of Thornton, CO, USA, which manufactures lightweight, flexible copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic modules, has announced the seven selected teams that will begin designing prototypes for the Ascent Solar Innovative Design Competition.

Teams from Boston University, Rochester Institute of Technology, San Diego State, Texas A&M, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Oregon were selected by a committee that included members of Ascent’s executive and product development staff. In the next week, students will receive flexible solar modules and project funding courtesy of Ascent Solar.

The competition will last throughout the 2011-2012 school year and allows participating students and their professors to explore the applications and uses for Ascent’s lightweight, flexible solar modules, which can be directly integrated into standard building materials, commercial transportation, automotive solutions, space applications, consumer electronics for portable power, and durable off-grid solutions. For the competiton, teams will compete by developing working prototypes of portable power applications.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with talented students, from engineering schools across the country,” says president & CEO Ron Eller. “We are giving teams a chance to develop novel, real-world applications for portable solar technology.”

The teams with the top designs will receive up to $10,000 in cash prizes as well as potential future opportunities with Ascent.

Tags: Ascent Solar CIGS

Visit: www.ascentsolar.com/competition