19 March 2012

CIGS PV module maker SoloPower names General Wesley K. Clark to board

SoloPower Inc of San Jose, CA, USA, which makes thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaic (PV) cells and lightweight flexible solar modules using a proprietary roll-to-roll electro-deposition process, says that General Wesley K. Clark (USA, retired), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and a former US Presidential candidate, has joined its board as an independent director. On 19 March, General Clark also provided the keynote address at PV America 2012 West in San Jose, relating world events to the role of solar energy, energy scarcity and growing environmental challenges.

“His insights, guidance and perspective will be a valuable addition to our company as we work to make solar energy a major power source for the world’s commercial and industrial buildings,” says CEO Tim Harris. “As a global leader and alternative energy champion, General Clark is a perfect fit for our dedicated board, which provides critical leadership, advice and support to the SoloPower team,” he adds.

“I look for energy solutions that help to address the energy and environmental challenges we face as a global community, which is what SoloPower’s lightweight, flexible PV panels do by maximizing efficiency while keeping total installed costs low,” says Clark. “With growth capital in place and strong demand from the USA, Japan, South Korea and Italy, among other countries, I hope to help support SoloPower’s continued global expansion,” he adds.

Clark joins SoloPower’s board following the announcement last week that its next-generation panel has achieved an aperture-area efficiency of 13.4%, claimed to be a record for flexible CIGS-based modules. The firm is also in the midst of constructing and hiring for its high-volume manufacturing facility in Portland, OR, which will begin commercial production later this year and are ultimately expected to have an annual capacity of 400MW, employing 450 staff. 

In 38 years of service in the US Army, Clark rose to the rank of four-star general as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Since retiring from the military in 2000, he has worked as an investment banker, alternative energy leader, author, cable network TV military analyst and businessman. In September 2003, he ran as a Democratic candidate for President of the United States. He returned to the private sector in February 2004.

Clark has chaired several public and private companies. He also serves as a member of the Clinton Global Initiative’s Energy & Climate Change Advisory Board and ACORE’s Advisory Board.

Tags: SoloPower CIGS module CIGS

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