U.S. nuclear lab to work on solar PV

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, US, February 1, 2006 (Refocus Weekly)

A laboratory of the National Nuclear Security Administration will work on development of solar PV with the largest module producer in the world.

Sandia National Laboratories has signed a research agreement to focus on portable power applications for fuel cells with Sharp Corporation, to develop the use of direct methanol fuel cells to power consumer electronics such as laptops, cell phones and PDAs. Sharp has asked Sandia to fabricate fuel cells using proprietary membranes and catalysts, and will fabricate fuel cells during the 18-month project.

The broader partnership will focus on energy technologies, specifically solar photovoltaics, and will involve research of Sharp’s solar PV technologies, including tests and improvements on reliability, durability, calibration of solar modules, inverters, and other advanced applications.

“Our hope is that we’re successful and that success could expand our collaboration into solar photovoltaics and other areas,” says Jeff Nelson of Sandia. “Sandia can apply its extensive materials capabilities to help Sharp bring new products to the market, and Sharp with its extensive electronics and manufacturing expertise will assure the development of commercial mobile power technology that is important for many applications, including man-portable power and distributed sensor networks.”

The agreement is one of Sharp’s first interactions with a U.S. laboratory, and was brokered by the New Mexico Economic Development Department following a meeting in Tokyo between governor Bill Richardson and Sharp executives.

Sandia is a National Nuclear Security Administration laboratory, and is operated by a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Department of Energy.


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