HelioVolt and Exeltech today announced a joint development agreement to commercialize turnkey solar systems.

The collaboration will draw on HelioVolt’s proprietary FASST™ technology for rapid CIGS thin-film production and Exeltech’s core competencies in high performance AC power system design and manufacture.

Development and manufacturing of the new systems is to take place at company headquarters in both Austin and Fort Worth.

The companies said they intend to develop streamlined systems for both conventional solar module and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products. The companies are aiming for high volume manufacturing, simple installation and easier monitoring and maintenance.

"The flexibility of the HelioVolt design lends it self perfectly to integration with Exeltech’s newest generation of grid interactive products,” said Kevin Parsons, vice president and director of marketing for Exeltech. “We feel the merging of these two very cost effective designs ... will reach a price parity with today's conventional generating methods."

“This collaboration is perfectly in line with our strategy to partner with best of breed organizations that can speed thin film enabled product to market,” said Dr. B.J. Stanbery, CEO and founder of HelioVolt. “Exeltech has earned an outstanding reputation as producer of one of the power industry’s highest quality, most reliable inverters.”

HelioVolt was founded in 2001 to develop and market new technology for applying thin-film photovoltaic coatings to a variety of substrates including conventional construction materials.