Apr 14 2009
Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTC:SUNV) (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."