25 September 2012

AZUR SPACE adds further Aixtron reactors for CPV solar cell production

Deposition equipment maker Aixtron SE of Herzogenrath, Germany has announced a repeat order from AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH of Heilbronn, Germany for two more metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) systems, to be dedicated to growing gallium arsenide (GaAs) materials for the production of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar cells for terrestrial applications.

Aixtron Europe’s service support team installed and commissioned the new reactors in second-half 2012.

AZUR SPACE Solar Power is a developer and manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells for space and terrestrial applications; the latter based on CPV. With over four decades of experience in space solar cell technology, its product range covers several types of silicon and III-V solar cells, including those on germanium wafers.

“Our existing Aixtron MOCVD systems have more than proved themselves, so now it is time to further expand production with two new systems,” says AZUR SPACE’s managing director Juergen Heizmann. “Adding more equipment from Aixtron has many advantages in terms of start-up speed, continuity and process transfer,” he adds. “It will also ensure a seamless and smooth transition to the next step in our strategic plans to move production to 6-inch wafers. This is a key step in the planned evolution towards high-performance materials, but with the economic advantages of larger diameters.”  

Tags: Aixtron AZUR SPACE CPV

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