Polycrystalline Shortage Inspires Spire to Offer GaAs Solar Cells

May 8, 2006

Spire Corporation announced that Bandwidth Semiconductor LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary, now offers custom gallium arsenide (GaAs) concentrator solar cells for terrestrial applications.

These GaAs-based solar cells are based on Spire’s space and terrestrial solar cell technology developed over 25 years, during which record high cell efficiencies for terrestrial applications were produced. Higher efficiency means lower cost of electricity.

Bandwidth Semiconductor operates a complete compound semiconductor device fabrication line focused on producing custom devices, with highly-advanced MOCVD equipment for deposition. Bandwidth’s high efficiency GaAs cells can be designed and manufactured to address specific customer requirements. Customization options include concentration, cell size, and operating temperature.

Roger Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire, said, "With the demand for solar electricity and the shortage of polycrystalline silicon, concentrator solar technology has an opportunity to become significant in the marketplace. Bandwidth Semiconductor, with its extensive facilities and focus on custom device support, is an ideal supplier."

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Spire Corp.