United Solar Ovonic Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics) (Nasdaq: ENER), announced today that the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, has awarded United Solar Ovonic a $6.7 million, 18-month contract to continue the development of its ultra- lightweight, high-efficiency solar cell technology for use in space and airship vehicles addressing defense and homeland security applications. Today’s announcement builds upon the success of earlier contracts awarded by AFRL to United Solar Ovonic to develop its ultra-lightweight solar arrays to be used in space and airship vehicles. The Advanced Space Power Generation Group in the Space Vehicles Directorate of AFRL will administer the contract.
“Our performance goals for the next generation solar arrays include lighter, more stowable and lower cost than those currently available,” said Dr. Donna Senft, Program Manager of the AFRL Advanced Power Generation Program at Kirtland AFB.
UNI-SOLAR space photovoltaic products offer an ultralight, low-cost alternative to conventional space PV modules made of crystalline silicon or gallium arsenide. United Solar Ovonic’s triple-junction modules, originally developed for terrestrial applications, are made of amorphous silicon-based thin-film alloys, which are deposited on a 5-mil flexible stainless steel substrate.
By utilizing a polymeric substrate rather than stainless steel, new space cells will be developed that have a specific power density greater than 1,000 watts per kilogram (W/kg), which is significantly higher than what is currently available. A high specific power density is required for airship application. The radiation hardness and superior high-temperature performance of amorphous silicon make it an attractive material for space application.
United Solar Ovonic, building on technology invented and pioneered by ECD Ovonics, is the world leader in thin-film amorphous photovoltaics. Its existing 25-megawatt production equipment is the world’s largest and most advanced machine for the manufacture of thin-film amorphous silicon alloy solar cells and related products used for a variety of applications ranging from large solar farms for utility-scale applications to charging batteries for solar lanterns.
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