Page 74 - Solar Power in Building Design The Engineer's Complete Design Resource

44 SOLAR POWER TECHNOLOGIES

Greenray Greenray is a manufacturer and developer of a dc-to-ac module conver-
sion system. This team will design and develop a high-powered, ultra-high-efficiency
solar module that contains an inverter, eliminating the need to install a separate inverter
and facilitating installation by homeowners. Research will focus on increasing the life-
time of the inverter. Partners include Sanyo, Tyco Electronics, Coal Creek Design,
BluePoint Associates, National Grid, and Sempra Utilities. Subject to negotiations,
DOE funding for the first year of the project is expected to be roughly $400,000, with
approximately $2,300,000 available over 3 years if the team meets its goals.

Konarka Konarka is currently developing integrated organic photovoltaics. This project
will focus on manufacturing research and product reliability assurance for extremely low-
cost photovoltaic cells using organic dyes that convert sunlight to electricity. Partners for
this project include NREL and the University of Delaware. Subject to negotiations, DOE
funding for the first year of the project is expected to be $1,200,000, with approximately
$3,600,000 available over 3 years if the team meets its goals.

Miasole Miasole is a manufacturer of low-cost, scalable, flexible PV systems with
integrated electronics. This project will develop high-volume manufacturing tech-
nologies and PV component technologies. Research will focus on new types of flexi-
ble thin-film modules with integrated electronics and advances in technologies used
for installation and maintenance. Project partners include Exeltech, Carlisle SynTec,
Sandia National Laboratories, NREL, the University of Colorado, and the University
of Delaware. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the first year of the project is
expected to be $5,800,000, with approximately $20,000,000 available over 3 years if
the team meets its goals.

Nanosolar Nanosolar is conducting research on low-cost, scalable PV systems for
commercial rooftops. This project will work on improved low-cost systems and com-
ponents using back-contacted thin-film PV cells for commercial buildings. Research
will focus on large-area module deposition, inverters, and mounting. Partners include
SunLink, SunTechnics, and Conergy. Subject to negotiations, DOE funding for the
first year of the project is expected to be roughly $1,100,000, with approximately
$20,000,000 available over 3 years if the team meets its goals.

PowerLight PowerLight, a subsidiary of SunPower, will be undertaking product
development of a PV cell-independent effort to improve automated manufacturing
systems. This project will focus on reducing noncell costs by making innovations with
automated design tools and with modules that include mounting hardware. Partners
include Specialized Technology Resources and Autodesk. Subject to negotiations, first-
budget period funding for this project is expected to be approximately $2,800,000, with
approximately $6,000,000 available over 3 years if the team meets its goals.

Practical Instruments Practical Instruments Corporation will be developing
a low-concentration CPV system for rooftop applications. This project will explore
a novel concept for low-concentration optics to increase the output of rooftop PV