Magnolia Solar awarded second product development contract from NYSERDA

WOBURN, USA: Magnolia Solar Corp. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary has recently received a new, second product development contract from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

This innovative product development contract is to improve the performance of thin film solar cells by incorporating advanced light trapping techniques and nanostructured optical coatings. This innovative product development program is scheduled to run for one year. The baseline program award is for $250K, with Magnolia Solar contributing matching funds.

As part of the technical effort, Magnolia Solar will collaborate with Prof. Fred Schubert (Member of Magnolia Solar Technical Advisory Board) and his team at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to incorporate advanced nanostructured-based coatings developed for light emitting diodes into high efficiency solar cell applications. This new program builds upon previously announced and on-going NYSERDA program efforts at Magnolia Solar.

Dr. Roger E. Welser, Magnolia's chief technical officer and principal investigator on this new NYSERDA program, will be leading the effort to develop nanostructured coatings that can scatter light horizontally into the active layers of thin film solar cells.

Dr. Welser noted: "With this approach, Magnolia is aiming to revolutionize the power-generating capability of terrestrial photovoltaic systems by developing a low cost, thin film technology that delivers unprecedented levels of electrical energy per unit area.

"Advanced light trapping structures are needed to improve the current output and efficiency of a variety of different thin film technologies. Magnolia's nanostructured optical coatings, developed in collaboration with Prof. Fred Schubert, can both minimize reflection losses on the front surfaces of thin film solar cells, and recycle photons that pass through the device back into the absorbing semiconductor thin film layers."

Dr. Ashok K. Sood, president and CEO of Magnolia Solar, commented: "We are delighted to receive this innovative product development contract from NYSERDA. Commercially viable renewable energy has tremendous potential benefits for New York State in terms of security, economic growth, and the environment.

In particular, photovoltaic (PV) technologies that convert sunlight directly into electricity hold great promise as a sustainable, environmentally friendly energy source for the 21st century. We are committed to growing in the Albany region, supported by the world-class intellectual and technological infrastructure at RPI and CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex."

Dr. Sood continued, "Magnolia Solar's mission is to provide environmentally responsible and low-cost solutions for the solar power industry, and to be an integral part of New York's green energy future."