Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Energy Conversion Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: gg cox who wrote (2730)	12/3/1998 11:18:00 AM
From: Don Devlin	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 8393

United Solar on Mir! Thursday December 3, 10:38 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: United Solar Systems Corp. United Solar Photovoltaic Modules Successfully Installed on MIR Space Station Inaugurates New U.S. - Russian Collaboration in Space PV TROY, Mich., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- United Solar Systems Corp. (United Solar), a joint venture between Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq: ENER - news) and Canon Inc. [Nasdaq:CANNY - news] of Japan, announced today that its ultra-light space solar modules have been successfully installed on the MIR Space Station and are now undergoing performance testing and qualification for a variety of space applications. The modules began providing telemetric data shortly after installation, confirming their expected performance from earth-based space simulation tests, and data is being received continuously. It is anticipated that data transmission will continue for as long as MIR remains in orbit, which will be a minimum of 8 months and perhaps as long as several years. United Solar's installation on MIR marks the first time advanced thin-film amorphous solar modules have been installed on an orbiting spacecraft. United Solar's low-cost photovoltaic (PV) technology is expected to have widespread application in the U.S. and Russian space programs and especially in planned telecommunications networks, which will depend on large constellations of low-earth-orbit satellites and stratospheric platforms. The solar modules are the subject of a new joint development and testing program between United Solar, ECD, KVANT, the leading Russian enterprise in space PV technology, RSC Energia (Energia), a leading producer of space vehicles and manager of the MIR Space Station, and Sovlux, a Russian-American joint venture owned by ECD, KVANT and the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy. United Solar's ultra-light solar cells were assembled into modules by KVANT, which is responsible for the PV arrays on all the Soviet/Russian space vehicles. They were launched into space in late October by Energia, and installed in November by two cosmonauts during a 5-hour work session in open space. United Solar space PV products were developed to offer an ultra-light, low-cost alternative to conventional space PV modules made of crystalline silicon or gallium arsenide. Originally developed for terrestrial applications, United Solar triple-junction modules are made of amorphous silicon based thin-film alloys which are deposited on a 5 mil flexible stainless steel substrate. By utilizing a substrate which is between 0.5 and 1 mil thick, the new space cells have a specific power density greater than 500 watts per kilogram (W/kg), which is much higher than what is currently available. This offers immediate savings, given launch costs of approximately $10,000 per pound. The cells can also be produced at a fraction of the cost of conventional space products. There are also many spin-off terrestrial applications of the technology, including emergency power generation and ultra-light portable power systems for field operations. ''This is an excellent development,'' said Admiral Richard Truly, Director of DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). ''As a former astronaut and Administrator of NASA, I appreciate the importance of lowering the cost and weight of photovoltaic modules for low-earth-orbit satellites. I am pleased that the importance of triple-junction amorphous silicon alloy technology that United Solar and ECD have developed with NREL's support is also being recognized by KVANT and Energia for a new potential generation of space applications.'' ''We are enthusiastic about opening yet another new area of growth for our solar cell technology,'' added Stanford R. Ovshinsky, President and CEO of United Solar and ECD. United Solar triple-junction cells have been measured by NASA Lewis Research Center under AM-O space illumination at beginning of life efficiency of 12% for a small area cell. The cells are radiation hard, and perform exceptionally well in the high temperatures encountered in the space environment. United Solar is also developing solar cells using a 1-2 mil thick kapton substrate which could result in a specific power density exceeding 2000 W/kg. United Solar/ECD is the world leader in amorphous silicon alloy PV, holding all the records for high efficiency cells and modules. United Solar produces a wide variety of specialty products and a new line of award-winning PV shingles and metal roofing for building integrated PV. For more information, including photographs, visit ECD's website at ovonic.com. SOURCE: United Solar Systems Corp.