Greentech Lead America: EMCORE, a provider of compound
semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the fiber optic and solar
power markets, has signed a definitive agreement to consolidate its terrestrial
concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) system engineering and development efforts
into its joint venture, Suncore Photovoltaics.
Suncore Photovoltaics is the joint venture company formed
in 2010 between EMCORE and San’an Optoelectronics. Since the establishment, the
JV has engaged in high-volume manufacturing and business development in
China.
Under the agreement, EMCORE and Suncore will consolidate
intellectual property and development efforts for both ground mount and rooftop
terrestrial CPV products, including key engineering, and sales and marketing
personnel, to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suncore in the United States.
This agreement enables EMCORE to focus its efforts on
core competency of multi-junction solar cell technology for both space and
terrestrial power applications.
“Moving forward, EMCORE will continue to support
Suncore through supply of advanced CPV solar cell products and maintain its
presence in the terrestrial CPV Systems market through our ownership in
Suncore,” said Christopher Larocca, EMCORE’s chief operating officer.
Suncore’s subsidiary will fund all ongoing R&D,
marketing, sales and business development related to terrestrial CPV systems.
EMCORE will continue to own all of its intellectual property related to solar
cell technology and maintain investment activities to advance CPV cell
performance to serve a broader customer base within the CPV industry.
EMCORE employees who are currently engaging in product
and business development for terrestrial CPV will be transferred to Suncore.
EMCORE’s executive vice president, Charlie Wang, will also be joining Suncore
to serve as its general manager.
“This transaction provides Suncore with strong
research and development capability on top of the existing world-class,
low-cost and high-volume manufacturing infrastructure, and allows Suncore to
quickly respond to its customers’ need in today’s fast-changing solar energy
market,” said Charlie Wang.