Spire Semiconductor to Develop 42 Percent Efficient Concentrator Solar Cells

NREL awards Spire Semiconductor a contract to develop triple junction 42 percent efficiency concentrator cells. Technology developed will provide the processing platform for Spire’s “Triathlon” series of commercial concentrator solar cells.

Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Spire Semiconductor, LLC, has been awarded an 18-month, $3,706,359 program by the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), consisting of $2,960,850 in government funding and a $745,509 cost share. Under the contract, Spire Semiconductor will develop next-generation manufacturing technology to produce 42% efficient III-V three junction tandem concentrator solar cells.

Edward D. Gagnon, General Manager of Spire Semiconductor, stated, “We are pleased that NREL selected Spire to participate in this highly competitive Photovoltaic (PV) Technology Incubator program, whose goal is to shorten the timeline for companies to transition prototype and pre-commercial PV technologies into pilot and full-scale manufacture. Our new growth technique has the potential for producing concentrator cells with record-level efficiencies with lower manufacturing costs and higher reliability.”

Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation, added, “Spire has been involved in the solar energy market for over 25 years. Development of this cell will put us in an excellent position to capitalize on the growing market opportunity for custom gallium arsenide (GaAs) based solar cells for Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) systems. Our Spire Semiconductor facility has state-of-the-art capabilities for producing these devices. We plan to offer our new series of triple junction “Triathlon” concentrator solar cells to system integrators around the world.”

Nano-Nouvelle’s Clean Energy Semiconductor Gets Climate Ready Grant

NANO-Nouvelle, a company which was started in the Sunshine Coast Innovation Centre’s Business Incubators, has received an AusIndustry Climate Ready grant of $276,000.

Nano-Nouvelle is developing a nano-structured thin film semiconductor which it claims will efficiently convert various forms of energy into electricity. It hopes to complete developing a proof of concept by the end of 2009.

The new nanotechnology would be targeted at the renewable energy sector, with the goal to provide clean energy at an economically-feasible price.

According to Nano-Nouvelle, nanotechnology has been around since the sixties. However, recent developments allowed manufacturers and scientists new ways to manipulate the structure of materials at the nanometre scale.

Nano-Nouvelle says it has its eye firmly on the ball, stressing the need to remove the hype and deliver high performance products that can be manufactured at large scale and at a realistic price. It has lauded the role of the Innovation Centre and grant schemes in helping the growth of high-tech companies.

Hemlock Expands Semiconductor Manufacturing Operations in Tennessee, Michigan

Hemlock Semiconductor, a subsidiary of Dow Corning, will launch a major expansion of its polycrystalline silicon manufacturing operations in Michigan and Tennessee.

The company will build a new facility at the Commerce Park megasite in Clarksville, Tenn., which will produce a primary component used in the manufacture of solar panels and other energy equipment. The company will create 500 jobs at the site, with the potential of employing up to 900 workers within five to seven years. If plans are fully implemented, the project would become the largest announced corporate capital investment in the history of Tennessee.

“Tennessee’s business climate, coupled with a superb site in Clarksville, a strong, productive work force and an excellent location in proximity to our supply chain and customers made this the right decision,” said Rick Doornbos, president and CEO of Hemlock. “This investment will allow us to meet growing customer demand both in the near term and in the decades ahead.”

When complete, the Clarksville facility will have the capacity to manufacture up to 10,000 metric tons of polycrystalline silicon annually but is being designed with the capability to manufacture up to 34,000 metric tons.

The plant will occupy the entire 1,215 acre Commerce Park megasite, and the company plans to acquire an additional 947 acres adjacent to the site for additional build-out and to provide buffer space.

“We live in a time when a growing reliance on sustainable forms of energy is leading to growth rates of 30 percent to 40 percent annually for the solar industry,” said Matthew Kisber, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development. “This announcement means Tennessee will play a leading role in the growth of solar technology for many years to come.”

In addition to Clarksville, the company is expanding its operations in Hemlock, Michigan, which is where the company is based.

This is the third major expansion announced at the Michigan site during the past five years. In total, Hemlock has committed to invest as much as $2.5 billion at the site during this time frame. The latest expansion will add up to 13,000 metric tons of capacity to the site, while creating up to 300 permanent jobs.

The Michigan expansion is expected to begin supplying polysilicon in 2011.

“Hemlock, Michigan, has been our home since our inception more than 40 years ago. It reflects the commitment of our talented employees and the support of the region that we’re able to make another large investment at the site,” Doornbos said.

Ultimately, the Michigan and Tennessee facilities will give the company the capacity to produce 45,000 metric tons of polycrystalline silicon annually, exceeding the combined production capacity of all other manufacturers around the world. The combined investment of the two sites will be about $3 billion.

Texas Instruments' Philippines, Inc. Building Earns the First LEED Certification in USA

TI continues work to develop worldwide efficiency and environmental design standards for semiconductor manufacturing facilities

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) announced that its newest building in the Philippines, located in Baguio City, is now LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, making it the first LEED-certified building in the country. The new Phase V building, which will assemble and test products, received a LEED Silver rating. This latest high efficiency TI building follows the completion of TI's wafer fabrication facility in Richardson, TX, which was the world's first LEED Gold-certified wafer fabrication facility. Through its LEED-certified manufacturing facility and now its assembly and test facility, TI is delivering more value to its customers, not only by protecting the environment, but also by improving the quality and efficiency of its operations.

"Achieving the first LEED certification in the Philippines further demonstrates TI's commitment to implementing good energy and environmental principles at our manufacturing sites," said Paul Westbrook, sustainable development manager for TI. "The existing facility in Baguio has an excellent history of environmental, safety and health performance, which provided a great platform for building up to achieve LEED Silver certification at the new facility."

The building has several features that enable it to operate more efficiently and with less environmental impact when compared to similar manufacturing facilities. It is oriented with respect to the sun path to minimize unwanted heat gain and maximize natural daylighting. The building is well insulated with a reflective roof to further reduce heat gain. The efficiency measures resulted in a 24 percent reduction in energy use. Extensive water reuse and recycling resulted in a 70 percent reduction in water consumption. More than 85 percent of the employees at the site ride in local or TI provided mass transportation to the facility.

LEED, developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), is a third-party certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED is the predominant green building rating system in the U.S. and is used around the world. TI is working with other semiconductor manufacturers through the International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative to develop LEED application guides for complex semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

First Eco-Friendly, Green Science Park Located in North America Completes Phase One of Infrastructure Development

Partnered with Design and Construction Firm Grupo Maiz of Monterrey, Mexico to Meet LEED Standards for Green Construction Silicon Border, a science and technology park located in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, has completed the infrastructure necessary to support phase one of its manufacturing development targeted for green technology companies. Phase one is more than 500 acres of developed land, and is ready for its current and future tenants to begin construction of their manufacturing facilities.

The infrastructure build-out, financed by ING Clarion, consists of potable water plant and distribution, fiber optic telephone and data cable, power substations, waste treatment facilities. Silicon Border not only provides manufacturing space to companies creating “green” products, but does so in an environmentally conscious manner.

The water treatment plant has been designed to recycle up to 90% of the water used within the park. The other 10 percent will be dedicated to irrigation and other uses within the park. This water treatment plant is considered state-of-the-art and will meet or exceed the exacting standards for water demanded by high technology manufacturing. In addition to a world-class water treatment facility that recycles virtually all the water within the Park, Silicon Border is the first Science Park in the world to exclusively use LED lighting for 100 percent of its roadways and parking lots. Silicon Border conforms to the strict LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System criteria.

Silicon Border partnered with Grupo Maiz in November 2007, who was chosen as the preferred contractor to design and manage the physical attributes of the science park. The park’s total investment for the complete build-out will exceed $150 million. Grupo Maiz will also be recommended by Silicon Border to all of the park’s tenants and customers as the preferred contractor. Grupo Maiz is a good fit for companies whether they already have a design and only want a contractor, or wish to pursue a turnkey solution.

“Grupo Maiz has been a leader in providing quality design and construction for nearly 50 years,” said Daniel J. Hill, CEO of Silicon Border. “With their help, Silicon Border is well on its way to providing the technology industry with a strategic manufacturing alternative to Asia. The build-out of phase one is a milestone for both Silicon Border and Mexico, who, in the end, will together create a viable opportunity for job creation and growth throughout North America.”

Construction of the infrastructure to support phase two will provide guaranteed and redundant sources of power and water for all park tenants in order to maximize the probability of uninterrupted, continued operations needed to support today’s high technology manufacturing environment. This phase of the build-out, which will be an additional 900 acres, is projected to be completed in 2011.

Guided by semiconductor industry veterans, Silicon Border is a cost-effective, manufacturing alternative in North America for the world’s most advanced technologies, such as semiconductor, solar cell, telecommunications and flat-panel display manufacturers. It provides 10,000 acres of land for business space, and is supported by a world-class, industrial infrastructure and a significant Planned Urban Development Community. The Science Park is in close proximity to three major area universities, and will be home to the Baja California State University campus of engineering.

Silicon Border Development is currently in discussion with a number of additional companies looking to grow their global operations.

McIlvaine Company,

Northfield, IL 60093-2743

Tel: 847-784-0012; Fax: 847-784-0061;

E-mail: editor@mcilvainecompany.com

Web site: www.mcilvainecompany.com