United Solar Flexible Solar Shingles Receive Grand Award from
Popular Science
NEW YORK, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- United Solar Systems Corp.'s (United Solar) flexible
solar shingles received Popular Science's 1996 "Best of What's New" Grand Award. The Editors
reviewed thousands of new products, technology developments and scientific achievements. The
Grand Award (in the Environmental Technology category), which is the highest in any given
category, was presented today in New York City.
United Solar is an American joint venture between Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD)
(Nasdaq: ENER) and Canon Inc. The solar shingles, which employ proprietary thin-film
photovoltaics, can be incorporated aesthetically into the roof to provide electrical energy to the
household by converting sunlight directly into electricity. The unique product was developed in
collaboration with ECD under a cost-shared industry/government PV:BONUS program funded by
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and has recently been showcased at the 1996 Olympics on
an energy efficient home.
Christine Ervin, DOE's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
commented on the innovative solar shingles, "This achievement is an excellent example of the
effective use of federal funds to hasten the commercialization of an important energy resource to
address environmental issues of this nation and the world."
Commenting on this award, Stanford R. Ovshinsky, President and CEO of ECD, stated,
"Flexibility and ruggedness are the unique features of our thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technology.
United Solar scientists have integrated both features into an aesthetically-pleasing, much-needed
new product. These lightweight shingles will become ubiquitous and serve vast new markets."
ECD and United Solar are pioneers and leaders in thin-film technology. United Solar announced
on October 28, 1996 the achievement of a new world record solar-to-electricity initial cell
conversion efficiency of 14.5 percent.
More electrical generating capacity will be required in the next 25 years than was built over the last
century. Photovoltaics, the conversion of sunlight directly into electricity, is one of the most
environmentally safe, renewable energy options to meet these needs. Solar panels using thin films
of semiconductor materials are widely recognized as the best way to bring down the cost of solar
electricity.
ECD and United Solar also pioneered the low-cost manufacturing technology of thin-film
amorphous silicon alloy multijunction solar modules. The proprietary technology uses
one-half-mile-long substrates in a roll-to-roll process for production of solar cells in a manner
similar to the production of newsprint or photographic film. New state-of-the-art production
equipment, designed and built for United Solar by ECD, incorporates major advances in solar cell
design and manufacturing processes achieved by United Solar and ECD with support from DOE.
The production plant, scheduled to come on-line in early 1997, includes a triple-junction
amorphous silicon alloy processor and annually can produce solar panels capable of delivering 5
million watts of electrical power. Products from the plant will be available for a variety of
applications including rooftop solar products developed by ECD and United Solar such as the
award-winning solar shingles for residential rooftops and solar metal roofing products for
commercial rooftops. These products can be installed by commercial roofers without additional
supporting structures and have been showcased in an energy-efficient house in Atlanta, Georgia
and at a National Association of Home Builders townhouse in Maryland.
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. is the pioneer in amorphous materials technology. Canon Inc. is
a leading international manufacturer of office equipment, photographic and optical products.
/CONTACT: Dr. Subhendu Guha, Executive Vice President, 810-362-4170, or Nancy M.
Bacon, Director, 810-280-1900, both of United Solar/ |
