EMCORE Receives $28 Million Order for Concentrator Solar Cell Receivers from ES System in Korea
Accelerated deployment of solar farms in Korea drives increased demand for EMCORE's Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) products
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EMCORE Corporation (Nasdaq: EMKR) a leading provider of Semi-conductor-based components and subsystems for the broadband, fiber-optic, satellite and terrestrial solar power markets, announced today that it has entered into a $28 million definitive supply agreement with ES System of Gwang-Ju, South Korea, for solar cell receivers to be fielded in fully licensed and funded solar farms in South Korea. This agreement incorporates an advance deposit to ensure production priority, and will enable the installation of 70 megawatts (MW) of solar farms. Production for this order has commenced and shipments are scheduled to occur over the next 24 months with the provisions for accelerated deliveries as well as future purchase options under the same terms.
"We are delighted that ES System has elected to source CPV receivers directly from EMCORE," stated David Danzilio, Vice President and General Manager of EMCORE's Photovoltaics Division. "We continue to see increased demand for this enabling product from customers around the world and this purchase order further diversifies our growing terrestrial component backlog, which now exceeds $110M. Our second automated receiver assembly line has entered into volume production and we expect to commence shipments from the third receiver line in June. When combined with the recently completed CPV solar cell capacity expansion, this assembly capability positions EMCORE as the only vertically integrated CPV receiver manufacturer to the global concentrating photovoltaics industry," added David Danzilio.
James Park, Chief Operating Officer of ES System stated, "ES System is proud to be the leading provider of CPV systems in Korea. Our longstanding record of low-cost manufacturing and deployment of complex PV systems, including our previous success in the silicon solar power fields, assures our significant contribution in meeting the growing need for affordable renewable energy. We are convinced that the EMCORE cell receiver technology provides the best solution for high concentration CPV systems both now and in the future."
The Korean Government has recently announced an increase of the total installed capacity target from 100 to 500 MW while maintaining the solar power feed-in tariff at 677 Korean won per kw-hr for systems deployed by September 30, 2008. This policy has stimulated the acceleration of solar farm installation in Korea. ES System is responding to robust sales of their solar CPV systems and currently is also procuring EMCORE receivers under an existing supply agreement from Green and Gold Energy (GGE) of Adelaide, Australia. All Emcore solar cell receivers are being integrated into ES System CPV units at their manufacturing facilities in Gwang-Ju City, Korea. Recently, GGE has been encouraging direct supply relationships between their major licensees and EMCORE. We expect more orders from GGE's licensees under similar terms in the near future.
EMCORE has introduced a line of integrated CPV solar cell products optimized for operation from 500X to 1000X concentration, which provide terrestrial systems integrators with a complete photovoltaic solution for their CPV systems. EMCORE's CPV receiver is easily integrated into existing CPV systems and has emerged as the most desirable form in the industry. EMCORE is the first company to provide its customers with 20 years of performance warranty. By choosing EMCORE's complete and highly reliable receiver solution, CPV system developers are able to focus their efforts on advancing their optical design and optimizing the balance of the system, significantly reducing their time to market.
About EMCORE:
EMCORE Corporation is a leading provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the broadband, fiber optic, satellite and terrestrial solar power markets. EMCORE's Fiber Optics unit offers optical components, subsystems and systems that enable the transmission of video, voice and data over high-capacity fiber optic cables for high-speed data and telecommunications, cable television (CATV) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) networks. EMCORE's Solar Power unit provides solar products for satellite and terrestrial applications. For satellite applications, EMCORE offers high- efficiency compound semiconductor-based gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells, covered interconnect cells and fully integrated solar panels. For terrestrial applications, EMCORE offers concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems for utility scale solar applications as well as offering its high-efficiency GaAs solar cells and CPV components for use in solar power concentrator systems. For specific information about our company, our products or the markets we serve, please visit our website at http://www.emcore.com.
Safe Harbor
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, and the assumptions underlying such statements, constitute "forward- looking statements" and assumptions underlying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including (a) the failure of the products mentioned (i) to perform as expected without material defects, (ii) to be manufactured at acceptable volumes, yields, and cost, and (iii) to be successful under field conditions, and (b) the ability by the Company's customers to achieve their own business goals and objectives. Readers should also review the risk factors set forth in EMCORE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and EMCORE does not assume any obligation to update these statements.
CONTACT: EMCORE Corporation Adam Gushard - Interim Chief Financial Officer (505) 332-5000 info@emcore.com TTC Group Vic Allgeier (646) 290-6400 vic@ttcominc.com
SOURCE EMCORE Corporation
Released May 5, 2008