AMG announces mono-crystalline solar patent

AMG Advanced Metallurgical announced the granting of U.S. Patent No. 8,048,221 for mono-crystalline growth methods. The patent was granted to AMG IdealCast Solar Corporation, ("AMG IdealCast") a wholly owned subsidiary of AMG's Engineering Systems Division, ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH .

AMG IdealCast believes that its intellectual property position is well established with this patent and four additional core patents that are pending. Mono2(TM) licensable technology gives AMG IdealCast's customers a competitive advantage now and in the future, as wafer manufacturers upgrade to larger size ingots. AMG IdealCast has completed testing with key customers and is refining ingot growth conditions to fit customer-specific cell processes.

Increasing solar cell efficiencies are the primary method for reducing cost per watt in today's solar market. Mono2(TM) wafers have average cell efficiencies that are 1% (absolute) greater than that of standard multi-crystalline wafers. AMG IdealCast is offering customers this new production technology with its long-term reliability, stability, and dependability. "Despite the near term challenges faced by the solar industry, there is increased interest for higher efficiency 'quasi-monocrystalline' product from a cast-in-place furnace. AMG IdealCast can deliver the Mono2(TM) technology in a stable, production-ready, and cost-effective manner," said Roger Clark, Chief Operating Officer of AMG IdealCast. Customers can produce Mono2(TM) Gen 5 (450kg) test ingots on full-scale operating equipment using a SCU450 furnace from ALD at AMG IdealCast's facilities