Spire Semiconductor, a subsidiary of Spire, has been awarded an 18 month, US$3,706,359 programme by the Department of Energy's (DoE) NREL, consisting of US$2,960,850 in government funding and a US$745,509 cost share.

Under the contract, Spire Semiconductor will develop next-generation manufacturing technology to produce 42% efficient III-V three junction tandem concentrator solar cells.