Mar 24 2010
AccuStrata Inc., a company in the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute's Technology Advancement Program incubator developing intelligent, real-time optical control systems that improve the manufacturing yield and efficiency of thin-film solar panels, has been awarded a $70,000, phase-one Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, university officials announce today.
AccuStrata will use the funding to refine its field-tested, patent-protected system for monitoring the effectiveness of thin-film solar panel production in real time, enabling manufacturers to make on-the-fly adjustments and ensure panels' efficiency.
"This funding will enable us to advance our novel thin-film solar panel manufacturing control system," says George Atanasoff, president of AccuStrata. "Our pilot tests in real production environments have shown that solar cells manufactured with our system should be able to produce 15-20 percent more power, resulting in increased revenue and profit for manufacturers."
AccuStrata is developing solutions for both thin-film solar panel and crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturers. The company also plans to enter additional markets using thin-film deposition, such as nanotechnology, touch screen displays, and high-brightness LEDs.
In late 2009, AccuStrata won a $150,000, phase-one Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research grant. In June 2009, the company received a National Science Foundation phase-one SBIR grant for $100,000. In August 2009, the company won another DOE Supply Chain grant for $150,000. The company also received funding from the Maryland Technology Development Corporation through the Maryland Technology Transfer Fund.
AccuStrata was selected as the Maryland Incubator Company of the Year in 2008 and was again nominated for Maryland Incubator Company of the Year in 2009.