Japan-based Solar Frontier and the State University of New York College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (SUNY CNSE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct a technical and economic feasibility study for a potential joint research development and manufacturing facility in Buffalo, N.Y.
Solar Frontier says the effort is part of its plan to establish production bases for its copper indium selenium thin-film modules in technology outside of Japan. The company says it will establish its North American headquarters at SUNY CNSE in Albany.
SUNY CNSE, a member of the U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium, operates the Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, N.Y., which provides a prototyping and demonstration line for copper indium gallium diselenide thin-film solar cells.
