Chinese Solar Company, NREL Sign R&D Agreement

(National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

LDK Solar Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of solar wafers and photovoltaic products in Xinyu City, China and Sunnyvale, California, says it signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for collaborative research and development activities on silicon materials and photovoltaic devices.

Under the agreement, the LDK Solar and NREL will investigate silicon feedstock related issues, develop standards for solar grade silicon and evaluation methods, and conduct research on crystallization technologies and commercial implementation.

LDK Solar is a vertically integrated manufacturer of polysilicon, monocrystalline and multicrystalline ingots, wafers, cells, and modules. NREL is the Department of Energy’s primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.