Ascent Solar Selected for Air Force Advanced PV Program

Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. will demonstrate a photovoltaic module that performs better at higher temperatures, the company announced Monday.

Under Phase II of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Air Force contract, valued at up to $750,000, Ascent Solar will modify its existing flexible monolithically integrated copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) technology to improve PV performance.

“Solar cells perform best at lower temperatures, but they can get hot during normal operation,” said company President and CEO Victor Lee. “We envision a new product that will perform over 30 percent better under some operating conditions.”

Those conditions include process modifications that can be used with the company’s existing manufacturing line, he added.

The program is subject to contract finalization and is expected to run 24 months.

For more information, visit: www.ascentsolar.com