Ascent Solar Technologies Inc of Thornton, CO, USA has been selected for a US Air Force (USAF) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 2 award to demonstrate a next-generation photovoltaic product that builds on its flexible monolithically integrated copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic module technology.

Subject to contract finalization, the SBIR Phase 2 program is expected to run for 24 months, with a program value of up to $750,000.

“Solar cells perform best at lower temperatures, but they can get hot during normal operation,” says Ascent Solar’s president & CEO Victor Lee. “Modifying our existing technology can improve its performance at higher temperatures. This Air Force program builds upon significant work already conducted by our team in this area,” he adds. “After program completion, we envision a new product that will perform over 30% better under some operating conditions that utilize process modifications that can be used in our existing manufacturing line.”