Emcore claims largest sale of CPV cells

Albuquerque, N.M.-based semiconductor components maker Emcore (NASDAQ: EMKR) received an order for three million solar cells, calling it the industry's largest concentrator solar cell order to date.

The recent $24 million, 105 megawatt follow-on production order was from Australia's Green and Gold Energy. Green and Gold placed an initial 5 MW order earlier this year.

"Emcore's solar cell serves as the key enabling technology in our SunCube CPV system," said Greg Watson, CEO of Green and Gold Energy.

"This 105 MW production contract confirms Emcore's position as the leader in concentrator cell technology and high volume manufacturing," said David Danzilio, VP and general manager of Emcore's photovoltaics division.

In May, Emcore said it reached 37 percent peak efficiency on multi-junction solar cells currently in volume production. The company also said at the time it reached conversion efficiency of 31 percent for a new class of advanced thin multi-junction solar cells optimized for space applications (see EMCORE gives multi junction Spectrolab cells run for money).

Emcore said it's aiming for CPV solar cell products with conversion efficiencies of greater than 40 percent.

The order from Green and Gold is expected to ship by the end of 2008.

The Australian company plans to deploy solar farms Down Under using its SunCube CPV system. Green and Gold has said it's also entering into distribution agreements with several partners, representing a potential for more than 500 MW of annual demand.

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