Fiberstars EFO Technology Could Help Speed Development Of Higher Efficiency Solar Cells

SOLAR DAILY

Members of the the Very High Efficiency Solar Concentrator Consortium.

by Staff Writers
Solon OH (SPX) Feb 20, 2007
Fiberstars announced $240,000 in funding through the Very High Efficiency Solar Concentrator Consortium. Fiberstars was selected to join the consortium in 2006; this new installment will fund Fiberstars contributions through the next stage of the project.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) established the VHESC program to demonstrate at least 50% efficiency in a photovoltaic (PV) device. The Consortium is led by the University of Delaware and includes the top solar teams in industry and academia. Fiberstars has been working with this group of prominent universities and corporations including University of Rochester, BP Solar and DuPont, to develop materials, processes and optics to speed the solar industry's development of higher efficiency solar cells.

The VHESC is tasked with the ambitious goal of more than doubling the efficiency of the most efficient solar cell from 24.7% to 50% by 2010. The consortium is exploring new processes for fabricating novel structures for advanced high-efficiency PV solar power sources.

Building on the advances made with new very high performance crystalline silicon solar cell platforms, the group is researching other innovative technologies that can further boost efficiency levels. Fiberstars' EFO optical solutions currently provide unique high quality lighting solutions for large retailers, grocery stores and hotels and the company is investigating ways the patented fiber optic technology can be applied to deliver direct sunlight to solar cells.

"Fiberstars is proud to join the most innovative and creative companies in the solar industry," said Roger Buelow, CTO of Fiberstars. "The VHESC technology will quickly reduce the heavy battery load US servicemen carry today by enabling them to easily recharge their high power-draw equipment. This technology will also have widespread residential and commercial applications to reduce the overall energy import requirements of our country."

"Fiberstars is excited about the potential to expand its breakthrough EFO technology to the solar industry," said John Davenport, CEO of Fiberstars.

"The additional funding is further testament to the potential of Fiberstars' EFO technology to dramatically improve the efficiency of solar cells. We are especially excited about how this technology could couple with EFO lighting technology to make a huge impact on retail stores' carbon footprint. A typical retail store consumes 2 tons of coal every year to run their halogen lights; by switching to EFO they could power the same lights with a small VHESC solar panel, only 5 feet across."

Fiberstars has already proven its ability to move a new technology from R and D through commercialization, as witnessed with the roll-out of its flagship line of EFO products. Fiberstars was chosen as the system integrator for an earlier DARPA program called High Efficiency Distributed Lighting (HEDL). The technology developed under HEDL enabled Fiberstars to accelerate the deployment of super efficient lighting systems.

Fiberstars

SOLAR DAILY

Applied Materials Names Winfried Hoffmann Chief Technology Officer Of Solar Business Group

Santa Clara CA (SPX) Feb 14, 2007
Applied Materials announced today that it has named Dr. Winfried Hoffmann the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of its Solar Business Group, and a member of the management board of Applied Materials GmbH, effective April 2, 2007. Dr. Hoffmann, most recently Chairman of Schott Solar GmbH, is recognized globally for his work in the Photovoltaic (PV) industry and adds important experience to Applied's efforts in the solar equipment market.

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