French semiconductor maker Soitec is moving forward with plans for a solar manufacturing plant within San Diego city limits, putting the region at the forefront for deployment of a promising and relatively new photovoltaic technology. The factory in Rancho Bernardo will produce concentrated photovoltaic modules that use optical lenses to focus sunlight onto tiny solar cells measuring one-tenth of an inch. Researchers say the technology, pioneered on space missions, is poised for a commercial breakthrough next year on utility-scale electricity generating projects and may soon compete broadly with traditional silicon solar panels, even as panel prices plummet.
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