Corning’s Specialty Glass Combined with Oerlikon Solar’s Micromorph® Technology Delivers Silicon-Tandem Solar Cell with 11.9 Percent Efficiency

Published on Tuesday, 07 September 2010 08:12 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

CORNING, N.Y.-( Business Wire )-

Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) and Oerlikon Solar (SIX: OERL) announced today that they have achieved a record-breaking 11.9 percent stabilized conversion efficiency in a silicon-tandem, research-size photovoltaic cell. Results were confirmed by the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Based on the unique combination of Oerlikon Solar’s world leading Micromorph^® technology and Corning’s thin specialty glass, the resulting solar cell’s energy conversion efficiency exceeds the current 11.7 percent industry record, set in 2004, and was achieved without the use of antireflective coating.

Increasing conversion efficiency, or the rate at which sunlight energy is converted into electric current, is a key industry challenge. This milestone for Micromorph^® tandem technology is particularly significant in the advancement of thin-film photovoltaics, a rapidly progressing segment of the fast-growing solar energy industry.

The newly developed photovoltaics research cell combines the advanced light-trapping capabilities of Corning’s specialty glass and Oerlikon Solar’s proprietary Micromorph^® technology, utilizing a zinc oxide low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) front contact.

“The 11.9 percent efficiency achievement is an important step forward in thin-film innovation for our customers,” said Dr. Jurg Henz, chief executive officer, Oerlikon Solar. “We look forward to continued work with Corning on a roadmap to advance this technology to cell efficiencies of 12 percent and beyond.”

“We are thrilled with the milestone reached through this very strong collaboration between Oerlikon Solar and Corning,” noted Dr. Gary Calabrese, vice-president, Science and Technology and director, Corning Photovoltaic Glass Technologies. “More importantly, we are strongly encouraged by the great opportunities that these advancements make possible for the photovoltaics industry as the combined efforts of these two companies move forward to achieve even higher efficiencies with silicon tandem.”

More information and research details will be presented by Dr. Julien Bailat of Oerlikon Solar at the 25th Annual European Photovoltaics Solar Energy Conference (PVSEC) and the 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WPEC-5) in Valencia Spain on Sept. 7. A presentation on the topic of photovoltaics glass reliability will also be presented by Dr. James Webb of Corning Incorporated at the same conference on Sept. 8.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

About Oerlikon Solar

Oerlikon Solar (http://www.oerlikon.com/solar/) designs and manufactures field-proven equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines for the mass production of environmentally sustainable thin film silicon solar modules. With its amorphous and high-efficiency Micromorph® tandem technology, Oerlikon Solar has dramatically increased the efficiency of thin film silicon and created innovative end-to-end manufacturing solutions for thin film PV, enabling new entrants in the fast-growing, global PV manufacturing business. Oerlikon Solar leads the thin film solar equipment sector with 12 factories in production in seven countries, more than 2.5 million modules produced and 450 MW of capacity produced worldwide.

About Corning Incorporated

Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 150 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy and metrology.

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Corning Media Relations:M. Elizabeth Dann, 607-974-4989dannme@corning.comLisa A. Burns, 607-974-4897burnsla@corning.comorCorning Investor Relations:Kenneth C. Sofio, 607-974-7705sofiokc@corning.comorOerlikon Solar Media Relations:Brunhilde Mauthe, +41 81 784 80 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.