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Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. and EPIR Technologies, Inc., the only two solar companies able to grow single-crystal, high-quality cadmium telluride on silicon (CdTe/Si) wafers, have announced the receipt of the US$9 million Defense Department SBIR Phase III contract, permitting the expansion of production capacities of CdTe/Si manufacturing programs.

The two companies are under an agreement in the Dominican Republic to install 20MW of solar power in Santo Domingo’s Cibernetique Parque.  They have also claimed there is no other company in the solar industry able to compare with their cost per Watt, including First Solar and SunPower. 

The two companies have finally been triumphant in the commercialization of CdTe/Si wafers after over a decade.  The wafers cut down the cost of infrared cameras for the US military and the majority of the research has been made possible by the Department of Defense.

Dr. Siva Sivananthan, Chairman and CEO of EPIR, led the growth of CdTe/Si, in the infrared imaging industry.  Sivananthan said, "Senator Durbin's continued support has been extremely helpful, and I expect to continue rewarding his support with innovation and achievement that exceeds expectations and contributes substantially both to the protection of our soldiers, our country, our economic growth and the health of our environment."