SOURCE: Silicon Chemical Corporation
May 06, 2009 18:32 ET
Silicon Chemical Corporation (SCC) Donates to Portland State University (PSU) for Solar Energy Research
VANCOUVER, WA--(Marketwire - May 6, 2009) - Silicon Chemical Corporation (SCC) has
donated funds toward developing a public-private partnership with Portland
State University (PSU) in support of Dr. Carl Wamser's research in the
development of novel chemical processes for solar energy. SCC is
particularly excited about the research PSU is conducting on new materials
for solar energy production and the effects this research will have on our
environment and life styles. Support of PSU's research creates an ideal
partnership for SCC as its new solar energy division, "SCC Solar" moves
forward with implementation of advanced solar technologies.
"I appreciate very much the freedom and flexibility that you implied in
your donation. I am still thinking of all the ways that these funds can be
used to enrich the solar activities I do," said Dr. Carl Wamser, Professor,
Department of Chemistry, Portland State University.
SCC provides technology and equipment for the solar energy market,
including the production of raw materials to produce high purity silicon
and silane for the manufacture of single crystal and thin-film solar cells.
SCC is also helping their clients to complete the value chain through the
delivery and application of the client's products in the USA by SCC Solar.
As a company, SCC is focused on fully integrating the various phases of
solar energy production to maximize raw material and energy efficiency
while minimizing impact to the environment. SCC's is a leader in the quest
for zero emission discharge and a more sustainable production model for all
aspects of solar energy.
"We're grateful for your partnership in expanding resources for the
sciences, one of the University's leading priorities. Philanthropy like
yours helps to provide a high quality research and teaching environment.
Your contribution will show a strong return in the years ahead as Portland
State scientists continue to create new knowledge and find groundbreaking
ways to apply it to industry, improve the quality of lives and sustain our
planet's resources," said Wim Wiewel, President of Portland State
University.
"Collaboration with industry is an important component of our growth in
research. I hope that you will find avenues for investigations and idea
sharing with Carl and other scientists at PSU. Your gift to Dr. Wamser's
program will strengthen his ability to disseminate information about his
work and lead to exploring a new area in solar research -- the solar
generation of fuel," said Marvin A. Kaiser, Dean, College of Arts and
Sciences, Portland State University.
"Our corporate goal is to develop and implement clean renewable solar
energy while supporting the work being conducted locally that will provide
valuable results for both Portland State University and SCC," said Gary W.
Phillips, president of Silicon Chemical Corporation. "We share a common
vision for the future of solar energy."
Portland State University's ongoing solar activities include Carl Wamser's
lab, which works on organic solar cells based on conductive polymers. The
long-term goal of his work is to produce inexpensive plastic films with
solar activity (for either photovoltaic or solar-initiated chemistry).
Funding from the National Science Foundation and others will power a
project investigating the combination of green roofs and solar arrays; this
is a collaborative project with Carl Wamser, David Sailor (Engineering),
and Todd Rosenstiel (Biology). Also, three faculty members of the physics
department carry out solar research on novel photovoltaic materials: Rolf
Könenkamp (nanostructured semiconductors), Raj Solanki (silicon nanowires),
Jun Jiao (carbon nanotubes).
As an outreach program, the PSU Photovoltaic Test Facility has been funded
by the U.S. Department of Energy to establish a site for comparing various
photovoltaic technologies. Up to 11 different 1 kW arrays will be deployed,
with data sent to the internet. The Photovoltaic Test Facility will work
with OMSI to use the data stream for a renewable energy exhibit. In
addition, basic research projects have been funded by NSF, DOE, ONAMI,
BEST, and the PSU Sustainability Initiative.
About SCC
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, USA, Silicon
Chemical Corporation (SCC) provides process technology, equipment and
professional services for the electronic and solar industries. SCC's core
technology is the production of the raw materials to produce high purity
silicon and silane for the manufacturing of single crystal and thin-film
solar cells. SCC is uniquely qualified in these fields with SCC staff
having over 100 years of experience in process development, design,
construction, and operation of silicon related process facilities. Key
technology areas provided by SCC include trichlorosilane (TCS) and silane
production and purification, effluent gas recovery (EGR), waste
chlorosilane treatment and HCl recovery, energy conservation, mitigation of
site emissions and wastes using leading edge environmental equipment and
controls.
As the solar industry continues to grow worldwide, SCC will be at the
forefront of technological innovations in partnership with outstanding
academic institutions. With our SCC Solar division, SCC provides a bridge
for our present and future clients to market their products in the USA,
which is rapidly becoming the leading market for the solar industry.
Visit SCC @ www.siliconchemical.com
Visit Portland State University @ www.pdx.edu