Sunovia and EPIR Announce $9 Million SBIR Award CdTe/Si Wafer Commercialization and Capacity Expansion
SARASOTA, Fla., April 14, 2009
Source: Sunovia Energy Technologies Press release/PRNewsWire
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Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SUNV) (hereinafter “Sunovia”) and EPIR Technologies, Inc. (hereinafter ‘EPIR’ and collectively with Sunovia, ‘the Partners’ or ‘the Partnership’) announce the receipt of a $9 million Defense Department SBIR Phase III contract that allows for the expansion of production capacities and capabilities of the Partners’ cadmium telluride on silicon (CdTe/Si) manufacturing program.
The Partners are the only companies in the solar energy business that are capable of growing single-crystal, high-quality CdTe/Si wafers. The growth of CdTe/Si was pioneered by Dr. Siva Sivananthan of EPIR for applications in the infrared imaging industry. After more than ten years of research and development, the Partners have achieved the successful commercialization of CdTe/Si wafers. These wafers drastically reduce the cost of infrared cameras for the US military. Most of this research was funded by the Department of Defense, and is resulting in growing sales in three different areas of the market.
This breakthrough technology is now being adapted for the solar markets, and they are ahead of schedule in delivering ultra-high efficiency solar cells that can be produced at about one-fifth the cost of today’s high-efficiency solar cells. The speed and success that they have achieved to date in the commercialization of these new solar cells has allowed the Partners to accelerate the marketing of solar power to the global utilities and governmental markets. The Partners are currently under contract to install 20 MW of solar energy at the Cibernetique Parque in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The Partners’ unprecedented capabilities are coupled with a virtual monopoly on the world’s experts in this solar manufacturing technology, which creates a formidable obstacle for any potential competitor. The Partners are aware of no competitor in the industry today, including First Solar and SunPower, that is capable of achieving a comparable cost per Watt. The expertise within the Partnership in areas including semiconductor materials, light detection arrays, infrared imaging sensors and complete system integration provides them with a marked advantage in the commercialization of breakthrough solar and infrared products.
Dr. Siva Sivananthan, Chairman and CEO of EPIR, stated, “Senator Durbin’s continued support has been extremely helpful, and I expect to continue rewarding his support with innovation and achievement that exceeds expectations and contributes substantially both to the protection of our soldiers, our country, our economic growth and the health of our environment.”
About Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc.
Sunovia(TM) Energy Technologies is a Sarasota, Florida-based energy independence company. Sunovia’s primary lines of business are advanced, cost-effective concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and flat panel solar systems that employ patented cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cell and infrared (IR) technologies, and energy-efficient LED lighting products marketed under the EvoLucia(TM) brand. In addition, Sunovia has exclusive marketing rights to infrared products produced by EPIR Technologies, Inc. for civilian and military night vision markets.
Sunovia’s solar and LED lighting technologies are among the most cost and energy efficient in the world, and the Company’s research and development is dedicated to ensuring that Sunovia stays at the forefront of the renewable energy curve as markets expand and territories are defined. Sunovia is being advised by pre-eminent authorities in the field of renewable energy, including former Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and former Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth I. Juster.
Sunovia owns a significant equity interest in Illinois-based EPIR Technologies, Inc., a global leader in the field of IR sensors and IR imaging that has pioneered the commercialization of CdTe on Si and HgCdTe on Si photovoltaic products, EPIR’s collective infrared knowledge and experience is believed to exceed any company in the world. It’s Founder, Chairman and CEO Dr. Sivalingam Sivananthan is the pioneer of HgCdTe growth by MBE and is a world renowned leader in this technology. EPIR holds the patent for growing CdTe directly on a Si readout integrated circuit, for which the company is developing a manufacturing capability with Congressional funding. Sunovia and EPIR have a network of close collaborative relationships, including the Army Research Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Night Vision Electronic Sensors Directorate, BAE Systems, and other laboratories around the world.
More information about the exclusive partnership between Sunovia and EPIR is available in Sunovia’s Securities and Exchange filings at www.sec.gov, or at the Partners’ websites, www.sunoviaenergy.com and www.epir.com.