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Golden CO (SPX) Jun 23, 2010 The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Solarmer Energy, Inc., have signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to collaborate on improving the lifetime of plastic solar cells, a promising new solar conversion technology. The joint research covered by the CRADA will explore the lifetime and stability of the organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices that make up the energy-harvesting layers of plastic solar cells. Under the terms of the CRADA, NREL researchers will evaluate the lifetime of Solarmer's high performance active layer systems. They will conduct the tests on NREL's combinatorial degradation system, which compares the performance of up to 360 OPV devices in parallel under simulated solar conditions that accelerate the test results. Optimizing the durability of OPV cells will enhance the technology's commercial future. "Through this collaboration we hope to improve plastic solar cell performance and extend the cells' lifetime through the development of stable device architectures and packaging systems," said NREL senior scientist Dana C. Olson, who is the principal investigator on the CRADA. The project will cover true lifetime results of materials and devices, a comparison of the materials, and an examination of degradation mechanisms. Both parties are confident that they also will find better encapsulation and packaging approaches, which will contribute to improving the lifetime of the plastic solar cells. Organic photovoltaic technologies, which include plastic solar cells, may one day cost a fraction of conventional silicon solar cells because they use less expensive materials. They also can be manufactured in high volumes through innovative processing methods, potentially bringing solar electricity in line with conventional electricity costs over time. "I have no doubt that this venture will end in success with an established team like NREL's working with us," Solarmer Vice President of Engineering, Dr. Gang Li said.
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SolarWorld Vehicle To Race In Tulsa-Chicago RunHillsboro, OR (SPX) Jun 23, 2010 The SolarWorld No. 1 solar-powered racecar takes off Sunday along a course from Tulsa to Chicago in the 2010 American Solar Challenge, representing the largest U.S. solar manufacturer in the best-established event of its kind in North America. Future engineers studying at Hochschule Bochum - the Bochum University of Applied Sciences in Germany - form the SolarWorld No. 1 team. Similar to a road ... read more |
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