PVMC to Provide Technical Support Services for Advanced PV Manufacturing

August 12, 2014

Portland, Oregon-based SoloPower Systems announced today that it is collaborating with the U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC) as a strategic technology partner. Under the agreement, PVMC will provide specialized technology services to SoloPower Systems to develop thin-film solar.

SoloPower Systems' CTO Chris Eberspacher said, "Our collaboration with PVMC will accelerate the commercial manufacturing ramp-up at Systems' factory in Portland, and will further support the continuing advancement of our products. We look forward to this partnership which will not only expand our thin-film production capabilities, but also serve to ensure SoloPower™ technology remains the leader in this exciting market."

"We are excited that interest in the U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium continues to grow, further supporting PVMC's mission to power the research, development, and deployment of sustainable, solar energy-focused solutions," said Chief Operating and Technology Officer of PVMC Dr. Pradeep Haldar. "We welcome SoloPower to the consortium where they will be able to tap into advanced solar energy research and expertise to enable high-tech innovation, which continues to be fueled by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's commitment to developing next generation, clean energy technologies."

Created as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative, PVMC has extensive experience and know-how in photovoltaic technologies, including roll-to-roll copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) PV technology, in both research laboratory and industrial production environments. CIGS-based thin-film uses layers of semiconductor materials that are only a few micrometers thick; the materials can be deposited on solid or flexible lightweight substrates, offering capabilities that are more versatile than traditional solar panels. This technology could also prove to be more cost-effective to produce in high-volume.

PVMC is also developing roadmaps and standards to forge industry consensus and address broad issues related to power electronics, module advancements, building integration, testing, and reliability. Additionally, it offers a proving ground for innovative solar technologies and manufacturing processes.

About SoloPower Systems:
SoloPower Systems is a photovoltaic technology company specializing in the design, manufacture and deployment of CIGS flexible thin-film solar technology. Further information about SoloPower Systems can be found at http://www.SoloPower.com.

About PVMC:
The U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC), headquartered in New York State, is an industry-led consortium for cooperative R&D among industry, university, and government partners to accelerate the development, commercialization, manufacturing, field testing, and deployment of next-generation solar photovoltaic (PV) and building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) systems. Through our technology programs, advanced manufacturing development facilities, system demonstration, and reliability and testing capabilities, PVMC is a proving ground for innovative solar technologies and manufacturing process as well as PV product development and deployment. Further information about PVMC can be found at http://www.uspvmc.org.