Ascent Solar

Infobox_Company
company_name = Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
company_
company_type = Public (nasdaq|ASTI)
company_slogan =
foundation = 2005
location_city = Littleton, Colorado
location_country = USA
key_people = Mohan S. Misra, Ph. D., Interim CEO
revenue = profit $1 million USD (2007)
net_income = loss$6.5 million USD (2007)
num_employees = 34 (Q2 2008) cite web
url=http://finance.google.com/finance?client=ig&q=ASTI
title=Google Finance: Ascent Solar Technologies
publisher=Google
accessdate=2008-10-08]
homepage = [http://www.ascentsolar.com/ www.ascentsolar.com]

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a publicly-traded solar energy company located in Littleton Colorado. Its primary product is a flexible thin film photovoltaic material on a plastic substrate. These thin film solar modules are manufactured using copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS), which has shown a 19.5% NREL efficiency in real world conditions, slightly above CdTe and significantly above amorphous silicon. Ascent is focusing primarily on space, near-space and terrestrial applications for their solar products. cite web
url=http://ascentsolar.com/x.php?page=16
title=Ascent Solar: Technology About Page
publisher=Ascent Solar Technologies
accessdate=2008-10-08]

Ascent Solar was founded in 2005 by ITN, a company engaged in commercializing emerging energy technologies through spin-offs and joint ventures.cite web
url=http://www.itnes.com/
title=ITN Energy Systems Main Page
publisher=ITN Energy Systems
accessdate=2008-10-08] During the first few years of operation, its primary focus was to research the CIGS thin-film technology as well as researching efficient methods for manufacturing. Currently, Ascent is focusing on entering its production phase with the construction of its second-generation roll-to-roll production plant which will begin manufacturing product in 2008. cite web
url=http://ascentsolar.com/ascentsolar.php
title=Ascent Solar: Main Page
publisher=Ascent Solar Technologies
accessdate=2008-10-08]

On 18 July 2006, Ascent completed its IPO, releasing 3,000,000 shares at $5.50 USD per share.cite web
url=http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/keyDevelopments?symbol=ASTI.BE&pn=5
title=Reuters: Ascent Solar Technologies - Key Developments, Page 5
publisher=Reuters
accessdate=2008-10-08] In June 2007, Norsk Hydro ASA, a Norwegian based supplier of aluminum products, entered into a deal with Ascent whereby it purchased 23% of Ascent shares with the option to increase that stake to up to 35%, which it did on 7 October 2008. Ascent has also entered into research and production deals with Texsa S.A., a Spanish roofing company along with other companies. Ascent has also partnered with the U.S. Air Force on several different research and development contracts. cite web
url=http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/keyDevelopments?symbol=ASTI.BE
title=Reuters: Ascent Solar Technologies - Key Developments, Page 1
publisher=Reuters
accessdate=2008-10-08]

On 22 September 2008, Ascent's then CEO, Matthew Foster, stepped down from his position. His reason for doing so was cited as an agreement between he and the company as the company changed from research-driven to production-driven. He will remain with Ascent as a consultant for an additional year after his retirement date.cite web
url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/22/ap5453005.html
title=Ascent Solar President and CEO Foster Resigns
publisher=Forbes
date=2008-09-22
accessdate=2008-10-08]

ee also

*Renewable energy companies on the stock exchange
*Photovoltaics
*Solar power in the United States

References

External links

* [http://www.ascentsolar.com/ Ascent Solar]
* [http://www.itnes.com/ ITN Energy Systems]