Ascent, ETI to make PV products for US army

SAN JOSE, USA: Joining hands towards a healthy collaboration in the solar segment, Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. and Energy Technologies Inc. (ETI) have agreed to jointly develop new photovoltaic (PV) products for the US military.

The coming together of the two companies is expected to lead to the development of hybrid solar power generation systems for rapidly deployable tactical soft-walled shelters.

As part of the agreement, ETI has been provided by Ascent Solar with products from its existing commercial line for a military shelter. This product has been in demos to potential military customers, said EETimes in a report.

In the meantime, Ascent Solar would supply Energy Technologies with modules for subsequent 2010 demonstration projects from its upcoming 30MW high volume production line, the report added. It has been pointed out that a combination of Ascent Solar's flexible, light weight PV modules and ETI’s hybrid military power systems would now be integrated into ETI's tactical soft-walled shelter.

The two majors plan to demonstrate this at Quantico, Virginia and Washington DC very soon.

A related report quoting Ascent Solar president and CEO Farhad Moghadam added that Ascent believes that its material is well-suited for integration into various portable and tactical solar-powered solutions for the military.

He added that “working with experienced specialty integrators like ETI has helped expand our development and penetration into this exclusive market”. Ascent now looks at demonstrating the two combo’s new products plus concepts.