Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Ascent Solar Nabs U.S. Air Force Contract

Alternative energy specialist Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. reported Wednesday that it has won a contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop a flexible, thin-film tandem solar cell. A monetary figure for the contract was not disclosed. Tandem solar cells consist of two stacked cells, with the top and bottom cells absorbing energy from separate parts of the visible light spectrum. Ascent's goal for the Air Force will be to produce a tandem solar cell that demonstrates thin-film photovoltaic efficiencies of 20 percent. Ascent Solar Technologies is headquartered in Littleton, Colo.