owerFilm, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of thin, flexible solar panels based on a proprietary low cost production process. The company’s objective is to target the building integrated solar power market and to continue to supply products for selected portable and remote solar power applications. PowerFilm is based in the state of Iowa in the U.S. PowerFilm was founded in 1988 by Dr. Frank Jeffrey and Dr. Derrick Grimmer, both former 3M research physicists, with a combined 65 years of experience in semiconductor and solar energy research and development. Since 1988, the company has focused on developing thin film solar panel technology and an industrial scale manufacturing process to produce low cost solar panels on a high volume basis. Elements of the company’s low cost technology and manufacturing process include the use of: a durable, flexible plastic substrate; roll-to-roll manufacturing to minimize handling costs; amorphous silicon to avoid dependence on the silicon wafer market cycle; and printed interconnection to automate the cell connection process.Having developed and commercialized an industrial scale production process for low cost thin, flexible solar panels, PowerFilm is in the process of expanding production capacity to meet the rapidly growing demand for solar panels. In addition to its solar panel products, PowerFilm has sought to leverage its core roll-to-roll manufacturing competence to develop additional thin film semiconductor devices. The company has formed a technology partnership with Hewlett Packard Corporation, one of the world’s leading technology companies, for the development of flexible, low cost backplane drivers for next generation flat panel displays. This development program has been funded by the U.S. Display Consortium. While this project is still in the research and development phase, it may enable the company to play a significant role in the future market for flat panel display technology. Future applications for PowerFilm’s thin film semiconductor know-how could also include RFID tags and electronic paper. PowerFilm® solar panels currently are integrated into commercial products for portable and remote power applications. PowerFilm Solar sells its own line of PowerFilm Rollable and Foldable Solar Chargers to recharge batteries and power consumer electronics. The company also sells PowerFilm solar modules that are integrated into the finished products of other companies.The company is in the advanced stage of development of PowerFilm solar panels integrated with metal roofing, membrane roofing, and architectural fabric.

PRODUCTS

Building Integrated
Building integrated solar electric power, sometimes called building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), is the combination of thin and flexible solar panels with standard building materials such as standing seam metal roofing, single-ply elastomeric membrane roofing, or architectural fabric. Thin and flexible PowerFilm solar panels have an attractive design and can be installed in a low-cost manner. This makes these solar panels especially well suited for building integrated applications.
PowerFilm’s initial building integrated solar power application is solar field shelters it has developed for the US Army, with its field shelter partner Johnson Outdoors/Eureka Tents. Shipments of solar field shelters to the US Army began in 2005. PowerFilm is in the advanced stages of development of its 20-year lifetime building integrated solar panels for integration with metal roofing, membrane roofing, and architectural fabric. The company has completed a 10-kilowatt demonstration and evaluation project on metal roofing.

Metal Roofing
PowerFilm is integrated with standing seam metal roofing and is conformable to a variety of architectural styles. The low profile and flexibility of PowerFilm enables it to be incorporated with innovative straight or curved architectural structures. PowerFilm not only provides power but also enhances the overall building design.

Membrane Roofing
PowerFilm can also be integrated with durable single-ply roofing membrane. Single-ply roofing membrane is commonly used on commercial buildings, warehouses, hospitals, and schools. The lightweight nature of PowerFilm, along with the durability of PowerFilm, is valued in theseapplications. Integrating rolls of membrane roofing with roll-manufactured PowerFilm is attractive from both a sustainability and an economic perspective.

Architectural Fabric
PowerFilm can be combined with architectural fabric to add power to innovative and exciting tensile structure designs. Examples include canopies, covered walkways, sports stadiums, airports, and convention centers. The lightweight advantage of PowerFilm is especially appealing to portable architectural fabric structures.

Portable and Remote Power
Portable Power encompasses the consumer part of today’s solar markets. Used for recharging consumer electronics such as laptops, cell phones, GPS, and mp3 players. Meanwhile Remote Power chargers are primarily used for recharging applications such as remote lighting, refrigeration, pumping, and GPS asset tracking. Portable and Remote chargers are either directly integrated with consumer electronic products or are designed as stand along chargers.

OEM Components
The PowerFilm® photovoltaic modules are based upon amorphous silicon technology applied to a durable polymer substrate 2 mils (0.05mm) thick using a true roll-to-roll manufacturing process. Finished modules are encapsulated in a variety of materials appropriate for the application use environment.The PowerFilm® product line includes a wide range of standard products for diverse power requirements and use environments, as well as custom modules that can be designed and encapsulated for your specific needs. Along with providing a variety of standard modules, ITFT can custom manufacture modules of many shapes and sizes to fit your specific design requirements, with power ranging from 0.1 – 20 Watts per module. Ultra compact and ultra lightweight, the PowerFilm® AA Foldable Solar Charger is ideal for soldiers in the field. The charger provides portable power for charging AA rechargeable batteries. Once unfolded, this charger automatically begins charging. The charging lights confirm if the batteries are charging or fully charged. The specialized charging circuitry provides highly effective battery charging.

Rollable Chargers
Because PowerFilm® integrated solar panels (thin film on plastic) are developed and manufactured with a proprietary roll process by PowerFilm Incorporated, they are truly rollable unlike other thin film technologies that are only somewhat flexible. PowerFilm® solar panels are all monolithically integrated which eliminates the damage-prone manual connections of individual solar cells. PowerFilm® is made of silicon, a natural resource in abundant supply. PowerFilm® is Cadmium Free, unlike some other solar technologies, and performs well in diverse environments, including hot sun, and does not suffer from wasted over-voltage. PowerFilm® products are ultra rollable because they are manufactured on a roll up to 2400 feet long, using the proprietary roll-to-roll manufacturing technology platform of PowerFilm Incorporated. PowerFilm Incorporated is the first and only company in the world to sell solar products manufactured on a true roll-to-roll process using a plastic substrate.

Military and Emergency
Through various endeavors and contracts with the military a group of products were produced with the military and strategic partners. These products are made to fit the military’s needs and specifications. Consumer versions of some products are in production and available for purchase through PowerFilm or our strategic partners.

Solar Field Shelters
Recharge bank of batteries to provide power for lighting, ventilation, field communication radio’s, satellite phones, laptops, GPS units, refrigerators, water purification units, etc. Combined with inverter to provide 110 V AC. PowerFilm Solar now is the clear worldwide leader in integrating fabric with flexible solar panels. PowerFilm Solar, working with its development partners, has completed the development of three Army tent designs that integrate its PowerFilm solar technology. The company has developed significant new technology for integrating flexible solar panels with fabric on a large area. Features:

• Power output from the three tents ranges from approximately 200 Watts to 1 Kilowatt. Several tents can be joined for additional power.
• The generated power will be stored in a bank of batteries.
• To be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from lighting to ventilation to power for field communication radios, GPS systems, and recharging satellite phones and laptop computers.

Contact : Dr. Frank Jeffrey; Merlin Hanson; David Lindop

www.powerfilmsolar.com