The award will fund development of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV)
systems to significantly reduce the cost of solar electricity
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Solar
Ovonic LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ENER), announced today that it has been awarded a cost-shared,
three- year cooperative agreement by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
for the development of low-cost building-integrated photovoltaic systems.
Under the cooperative agreement, United Solar Ovonic is expected to receive
$4.6 million in federal funding through the completion of its first project
budget period, which will be implemented through June 2008. Upon successful
completion of key project milestones and sustained execution of a viable
business strategy, as much as $14.74 Million in additional DOE funding will
be made available for continued implementation of the project through June
2010. The total potential funding from the DOE under the Solar America
Initiative (SAI) is up to $19.34 million for this three-year project,
subject to availability of funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress.
On March 8, 2007, while visiting United Solar Ovonic, DOE Assistant
Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner had
announced the selection of 13 solar energy projects to be negotiated for
funding by the DOE, which included the award to United Solar Ovonic.
"We are honored to be selected by the DOE for this award which will
accelerate our drive to reduce the cost of solar electricity," said
Subhendu Guha, President and Chief Operating Officer of United Solar
Ovonic. "Our lightweight, flexible solar panels are ideal for building
integration, and we look forward to taking part in the SAI program aimed at
reducing the cost of solar electricity to 10 -15 c/kWh by 2010."
United Solar Ovonic has assembled a team of experts from academia, the
national laboratories and industry to participate in this program to meet
electricity cost goals set under the SAI program. SAI is aimed at reducing
the cost of the modules, the balance of system components including
inverters, and system installation and integration.
Unlike traditional crystalline technology, which typically uses heavy
glass panels, UNI-SOLAR(R) products are flexible, durable, lightweight, and
easy to install. Because of these characteristics, UNI-SOLAR(R) triple-
junction products offer the ideal solution for both grid-connected and off-
grid solar electric systems. Independent studies in Europe and elsewhere
have shown that triple-junction products deliver more electricity per rated
power than the conventional crystalline products.
About United Solar Ovonic
United Solar Ovonic, building on technology invented and pioneered by
ECD, is the world leader in thin-film amorphous photovoltaics. Because of
characteristics unique to the United Solar Ovonic solar cell technology,
such as lightweight, ruggedness and flexibility, it is ideal as
building-integrated photovoltaic roofing systems for residential and
industrial customers. ECD and United Solar Ovonic hold the basic patents
covering the continuous roll- to-roll manufacturing of thin-film
amorphous-silicon alloy multi-junction solar cells and related products.
More information is available at http://www.uni- solar.com.
About The Solar America Initiative (SAI)
The Solar America Initiative (SAI) is part of the President's Advanced
Energy Initiative, and its goal is to make solar energy cost-competitive
with conventional forms of electricity by 2015. The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) is leading the SAI effort to accelerate the development of
cost- effective solar energy technologies that produce electricity and heat
water. DOE will conduct cost-shared research with industry-led teams and
form strategic partnerships with universities, federal and state
governments, and other non-governmental agencies. More information is
available at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/solar_america/.
SOURCE United Solar Ovonic LLC
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Related links:
http://www.ovonic.com
CONTACT:
Jeffrey Yang, Vice-President, R&D, United
Solar Ovonic LLC, +1-248-362-4170, jyang@uni-solar.com
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