July 8, 2009

Thornton, CO, USA: Ascent Solar Exceeds 10% Module Efficiency Milestone

Ascent Solar Technologies has achieved its initial target module efficiency goal of 10.0% for its flexible Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenide (CIGS) monolithically integrated modules.

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has independently verified that the modules measured as high as 10.4 % in conversion efficiency.

The modules tested at NREL were standard 429 cm2 modules produced by the company's 1.5MW production line that was put in commercial production in the first quarter of 2009.

Dr. Prem Nath, Sr. Vice President of Production Operations for Ascent Solar stated, "This is a significant breakthrough in demonstrating our ability to manufacture monolithically integrated flexible CIGS modules with greater than 10% module efficiency in commercial production. Ascent's high volume 30MW commercial plant is scheduled to commence initial production at the beginning of 2010. Module efficiency of 10.0% is a vital element for our low cost per watt manufacturing goal in high volume and will establish Ascent Solar as a leader in the production of light weight flexible photovoltaics used for portable power and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products."

Dr. Harin S. Ullal, Senior Project Manager for the National Center for Photovoltaics at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory stated, "Ascent Solar has made progress in advancing the state-of-art flexible, lightweight thin film CIGS PV technology. NREL has independently verified module conversion efficiency of more than 10.0% for several thin film CIGS monolithically integrated modules deposited on flexible, lightweight plastic substrates."

Further details about: Ascent Solar