BOSTON /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- SatCon Technology Corp., a developer and supplier of power management and system architecture solutions for the alternative energy and distributed power markets, announced that it has been awarded a subcontract for $208,000 from North Dakota State University (NDSU) to supply power conditioning and management for a Micro-Isotope Power Supply being developed under a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). NDSU's concept produces power directly from the output of a radioisotope source. In this initial phase, SatCon is to deliver hardware concept studies and a design, plus limited proof-of-concept power conditioning hardware, in breadboard form, to work with the initial battery devices that NDSU is producing.
The goal of the program is to develop a one cubic centimeter AlphaVoltaic battery that can deliver 35 mW continuously for many months to many years. The principle of operation is similar to photovoltaics, with the radioisotope the source of energy rather than the sun and the AlphaVoltaic designed for higher energy excitation, using wider bandgap materials than photovoltaics. These types of batteries could be used to power unattended sensors for applications such as perimeter defense networks, but could also have broader applications.
With NDSU as the prime contractor, the team is comprised of experts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, SatCon Technology Corp., Battelle Pacific Northwest Division (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), and the Naval Research Laboratory.
"SatCon is pleased to be included amongst such an elite team in developing advanced battery technology," stated SatCon's Chief Executive Officer, Dave Eisenhaure. "The company is poised for substantial growth in alternative energy solutions and advanced technology for energy and power management. We believe such development programs will advance the state of the art in energy storage—critical for the widespread adoption of alternative energy technologies. This contract underscores our leadership in supplying power-conversion products in a new and growing market for advanced power solutions."
About SatCon Technology Corp.
SatCon Technology Corp. is a developer and manufacturer of electronics and generators/motors for the renewable energy, hybrid-electric vehicle, grid support, high-reliability electronics and advanced power technology markets. For further information, please visit the SatCon Web site.