Cambrios awarded Department of Defense contract for flexible solar cells

SUNNYVALE, USA: Cambrios Technologies Corp. has been awarded a DOD contract to produce lightweight, flexible, cost-effective solar energy photovoltaics (PV).

Known for its development of ClearOhm, a transparent, conductive, liquid material used in the manufacture of various electronics, this contract represents Cambrios’ first public announcement regarding the feasibility of using this material as the electrode of a photovoltaic cell.

Cambrios has selected thin film solar module developer Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. as its research partner for the duration of the contract.

Under a contract with the Department of Defense, US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) and in collaboration with Ascent Solar, Cambrios will deliver flexible solar cells that incorporate a Cambrios ClearOhm electrode layer.

Because of the material’s improved transparency and light handling capability, it is expected that these cells will be 1 to 3 percent more efficient than the equivalent cells made with the conventional transparent electrode material.

The US military is the single largest consumer of energy in the world, and energy supply is an important issue for each and every soldier. Solar energy has been widely deployed by the U.S. military to power permanent and temporary military installations and to reduce the number of energy storage devices carried by a soldier.

Flexible photovoltaic cells can facilitate the use of this power source by making them more easily deployed on a variety of surfaces such as tents, clothing, backpacks, etc.

“This contract is an excellent opportunity for Cambrios to extend the applications of its products in the context of a program aimed at contributing to our nation’s security,” said Dr. Michael Knapp, President and CEO of Cambrios. “We hope to build technology and devices that improve the everyday life of our soldiers in the field.”

The period of performance for this contract will be for twelve months commencing on March 22, 2010 through March 21, 2011.