Space Travel News  
NREL Commercialization Project Accelerates PV Technology Innovation

File photo: Thin PV film
by Staff Writers
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 29, 2008
Crystalline silicon cells continue to dominate the market for photovoltaic (PV) modules and systems. To support the commercialization of these PV devices, NREL researchers continue to reduce their manufacturing costs and increase their efficiency, but also work to develop thin-film PV cell technology from both silicon and alternative materials.

A recent collaborative research effort between NREL and Ampulse, a venture-backed company with funding from Battelle Ventures and its affiliate, Innovation Valley Partners, will take silicon technology one step further with a new innovative approach.

"The partnership with Ampulse aims to make inexpensive silicon PV film with the efficiency of today's crystalline silicon cells," said NREL Researcher Howard Branz. "It also will help Ampulse, which focuses on film PV on flexible substrates, to enter the marketplace with commercially viable products."

"We are confident that the NREL team has the combined talent, skill, and experience to create potentially breakthrough products with market-leading efficiencies and advantageous economics," said Glenn Kline, Innovation Valley Partners general partner and Ampulse acting CEO.

The NREL and Ampulse partnership is evolving through a $500,000 cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA). The CRADA has received support from the Department of Energy's Technology Commercialization Development Fund (TCDF) Program, which has provided NREL with $4 million to establish such commercialization efforts.

"Without TCDF Program support, this commercialization opportunity would not have happened," said Tom Williams, NREL technology transfer office director. "In addition to the program funding," Williams said, "the flexibility and speed possible under the TCDF were essential to moving the collaboration forward with all the key stakeholders."

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which has a similar work-for-others agreement with Ampulse, will participate with NREL and Ampulse on this collaborative effort.

Related Links
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


ATK Ultraflex Solar Arrays Deploy And Provide Critical Power To The Mars Phoenix Lander
Minneapolis MN (SPX) May 29, 2008
Alliant Techsystems reports that the Ultraflex Solar Arrays deployed and now provide power to the Mars Phoenix Lander. This is the first flight for this unique solar array technology developed by ATK's Goleta, California facility.







  • George Law Joins Rocketplane Global
  • Russia And Europe To Build New Manned Spacecraft
  • North Carolina Students Win National Team America Rocketry Challenge
  • NASA Successfully Completes First Series Of Ares Engine Tests

  • Two Ariane 5s Are Readied For Launches In May And June
  • Arianespace Completes The Assembly Of Another Ariane 5
  • Zenit Rocket Powers A Successful Sea Launch Campaign
  • Sea Launch Initiates Countdown For Launch Of Galaxy 18

  • NASA revises shuttle launch schedule
  • Shuttle Discovery Crew On Track For May 31 Liftoff
  • NASA gives go-ahead for Discovery shuttle launch on May 31
  • Discovery's Launch Date Confirmed: May 31

  • Toilet breaks at International Space Station
  • NASA: Space station view is good this week
  • NASA TV Airs High-Def Day In The Life Of An ISS Astronaut
  • Russian cargo ship docks with the ISS: report

  • French skydiver fails record freefall bid
  • Japanese plan to brew 'space beer'
  • Medvedev To Discuss Space Center And Some Arms Dealing During Kazakh Visit
  • French skydiver postpones historic jump

  • Suits For Shenzhou
  • China Launches New Space Tracking Ship To Serve Shenzhou VII
  • Three Rocketeers For Shenzhou
  • China's space development can pose military threat: Japan

  • A Biomimetic Jumping Microrobot
  • Robot conducts Detroit orchestra
  • Canada rejects sale of space firm to US defense firm
  • The Future Of Robotic Warfare Part Two

  • Phoenix Coming Into View
  • Listen To Phoenix Descend To The Surface Of Mars
  • Phoenix Spacecraft Commanded To Unstow Arm
  • NASA restores radio contact with Phoenix Mars lander

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement