Company profiles:
Manufacturing Facilities: Frederick, Maryland
Profile:
One of the world's largest manufacturers of photovotaic systems.
Since:
Headquarters: Sylmar, California
Profile
Boeing entered the space solar industry with the purchase of Spectrolab, formerly a unit of Hughes Electronics. It supplies over half of the world's spacecraft solar cells. Prior to its acquisition, Spectrolab, which was founded in 1956, had been supplying solar cells to the space industry since 1958. In 1975, Spectrolab was acquired by Hughes Electronics to supply Hughes Space and Communications Company, a leading commercial communications satellite manufacturer. Spectrolab is also a supplier of searchlights and solar simulators.
In 1958, Poineer 1, the first satellite to be equipped with body-mounted panels used in space was launched with Spectrolab panels. Today, the Boeing 702, one of the most powerful satellites to orbit the earth with a power output of 18 kW at the beginning of life is powered by Spectrolab solar cells and panels. The solar cells and solar panels on the International Space Station were supplied by Spectrolab.
Boeing develops solar arrays for satellites and other space applications. It designs its spacecraft solar cells to deliver nearly 86 percent of their power after 15 years in orbit. There is considerable synergy between space and terrestrial cells so we cover advances that Boeing makes in this area since they foreshadow developments in consumer applications. Advances in space cells typically drive terrestrial cell improvements. Records for conversion efficiency in laboratory settings have often been broken by Boeing.
Relationships
Since: 1994
Headquarters: Marlboro, Massachusetts
Profile:
Evergreen develops, manufactures and markets solar powered products using its patented solar power technologies. It develops and uses its own String Ribbon wafer manufacturing technology.
Cedar Line - Use a 3.2 inch wide ribbon on 6-inch-long wafers with a conversion rate of 12%.
Relationships:
Kawasaki Heavy Industries - marketing partner in Japan
Headquarters: Nashua, New Hampshire
Employees: 75
Profile:
GT Solar is a manufacturer of integrated turnkey photovoltaic (PV) fabrication lines and PV manufacturing equipment for solar electricity-producing wafers, cells and modules. The company manufactures, sells and distributes Heat Exchanger Method (HEM) silicon casting furnaces, a state-of-the-art crystal growing technology developed by Crystal Systems.
Relationships:
BP Solar
Since: 1996
Headquarters: Tucson, Arizona
Manufacturing Facilities: Tuscon, Arizona, United States & Berlin, Germany
Profile
A leading manufacturer of CIGS thin-film solar on a flexible substrate, Global Solar was formed in May, 1996 by Tucson Electric Power Company and ITN Energy Systems. Global solar produces an array of lightweight, flexible and durable thin-film solar cells for sale to original equipment manufacturers for incorporation into flexible products such as roofing materials and traditional framed solar modules for residential and commercial use. It also makes water-resistant, foldable solar chargers used to power portable electronics devices such as iPods, GPS, PDAs and cell phones. These foldable solar chargers are small enough to be stored in backpacks and pockets. It also sells accessories for various electronic devices.
One special project Global Solar has worked on is the development of a micro-satellite in partnership with aerospace manufacturers.
Relationships
Since: 2001
Profile
Through its subsidiary, Deutsche Solar, SolarWorld manufactures solar wafers. SolarWorld produces solar grade silicon and recycles used solar cells and modules. The company also offers a 25 year warranty on its solar modules. Through WindWelt, the company is also active in the wind generation market.
Relationships
Sharp - produces modules for SolarWorld according to Original Equipment Manufacturer framework.
Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California
Profile
SunPower develops high-concentration solar systems.
Profile
One of the largest solar installation companies in China.
Since: 1984
Headquarters: Pennington, New Jersey, United States
Profile:
WorldWater's mission is to be the leading provider of solar powered water supply and electricity for emerging nations throughout the world. In 1997, it made its first production shipment of its proprietary products to the Philippines. In developing countries and remote regions, this company fills a major infrastructural void by acting as contractor, implementer, key equipment supplier and water/power manager for rural communities, delivering clean water from deep wells and rivers for drinking and irrigation with its proprietary solar pumps and solar electrical systems. The company is a full service water management and solar engineering company that specializes in providing proprietary solar pumps and solar electric systems to supply clean water and electricity in developing countries. It develops unconventional solar power products that apply photovoltaic technology to practical applications. For example, the company develops and installs solar pump water systems in remote locations, primarily Asian, Latin American and African markets. It often establishes subsidiaries in these countries to better serve their markets and even provides project financing to governments and private sector entities in emerging nations.
It has developed a controller box for its pumping systems that allows off-the-shelf use of AC pumps. Previously, systems would collect energy through photovoltaic panels to store them in batteries and convert to alternating current for use by the pump. Its solar pumps can retrieve water from wells at a depth of 1,000 feet and deliver from 5 to over 2200 gallons of water per minute. They are often used to take water from canals, streams and rivers for agricultural irrigation systems.
WorldWater has also developed a smart card system much like a telephone charge card for rationing water in rural less developed areas. Its self-contained pumping and "smart card" systems, removed and isolated from the conventional grid power source, can still operate pumping, storing, dispensing, recording and auditing/bookkeeping functions on solar power. Local populations pay for water with custom WorldWater debit cards. The smart card system is a solution to providing sustainable water supplies in less developed regions.
In partnership with Rutgers University, WorldWater has also developed a solar drip irrigation system.