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Solar power tent wins company award
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| By: Beth Anderson,
Staff Writer |
July 07,
2004 |
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The U.S. Department of Defense is honoring
an Ames company for developing a tent that becomes its own solar
power generator.
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It's a development that
could lead to more jobs in Ames.
Iowa Thin Film Technologies
Inc. of Ames - the only company in the world to develop fabric
integrated with solar technology, according to a company statement -
has been selected as one of eight companies to receive the 2004 Army
Small Business Innovation Research Phase II Quality Award.
"It's a big award for us,"
said Michael Coons, chief operating officer of Iowa Thin Films. "We
certainly expect to see an increase in demand for this
application."
The company
completed three tent prototypes for the Army last month and the
orders already are coming in, Coons said.
The solar thin film is
manufactured and integrated into the fabric at the company's
facilities in west Ames. The fabric is then shipped to
subcontractors for the actual construction of the
tents.
Coons said that future
possibilities for the process could include solar panels integrated
into military uniforms as well as other military uses. The company
also is looking at commercial applications for the tents and
fabric.
Iowa Thin Film
Technologies was created in 1988 following years of research by
co-founders Dr. Derrick Grimmer and Iowa State University graduate
Dr. Frank Jeffrey.
Thin film
is made of silicon that is rolled tissue-paper thin and embedded
with solar modules. The film is then attached to flexible plastic in
a unique process developed by the scientists.
When integrated into tent
fabric, it makes a lightweight, durable source of field power. The
power that's generated is stored in batteries and can be used for a
variety of purposes such as lighting, ventilation, field
communications, GPS systems, satellite phones and laptop computers.
Power output for the three
tents ranges from 200 watts to 1 kilowatt, according to information
released by Iowa Thin Film. Several tents can be joined together to
increase power flow.
The
company recently announced the completion of three tent prototypes:
The quadrant, which is placed over existing tents; the temper fly, a
modification of a standard Army tent design; and the power shade, a
mesh covering that can be used alone or over existing tents.
Staff writer Beth Anderson can
be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 353, or at banderson@amestrib.com
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| ©Ames
Tribune 2004 |
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