Breakthrough in Performance

The MicroPower breakthrough dramatically sets it apart from competing technologies by delivering:

• Energy and power conversion three to four times more efficient than commercial alternatives;

• Products three to four times less expensive on a cost per watt basis than commercial alternatives.

MicroPower Chips are projected to achieve 20-30% absolute efficiencies with target cost at $1-$2 per watt for volume production in due course. This represents a compelling alternative to conventional thermoelectrics, thermionics, solar or fuel cells. The dramatic performance and cost breakthrough exceeds the thresholds required to open a host of fresh new markets not previously considered viable, as well as expanding the existing thermoelectric market.

As is often the case with the introduction of new technology, the first products present a promise for the ultimate performance goals, whereas second and third generation products will indeed reach and exceeds these metrics. Nevertheless, MicroPower considers that there will be substantial demand for the early products as performance and price will be far better than the alternatives.

Several other important benefits inherent in MicroPower technology require explanation:

• Higher efficiencies lead to greater power and energy density per unit area, unit weight, or unit volume than alternative products.

This means that the MicroPower Chips required to produce a specific power can be significanlty reduced resulting in extremely light systems which take up a minute space for the amount of power they can deliver. Power density is a critical factor in the design and manufacture of advanced products, and is particularly useful for power/weight sensitive applications seen in aerospace and compact power for portable devices.

• Configuration flexibility that can scale from small to very large.

A MicroPower application can consist of a single square millimetre MicroPower Chip to an array of hundreds or thousands of MicroPower Chips covering many square meters, depending on the amount of power required. The array of MicroPower Chips can also be made to cover the unique geometry of the heat source, a feature that is particularly important in the conversion of waste heat to electricity.

• A very long projected service life with low or no maintenance.

MicroPower technology is solid-state meaning it is one solid module without moving components that silently generates electricity without deterioration or causing electrical interference. Common modes of failure associated with moving elements is eliminated. MicroPower based modules are expected to achieve the same reliability already observed in thermoelectric modules that have demonstrated >30 years of maintenance free operation life in NASA’s deep space probes.

• Environmentally friendly.

Once a MicroPower Chip is manufactured and installed into an application, it generates electricity or refrigerates without generating any emissions or using any harmful chemicals or gases. At the end-of-life, modules will be recycled similarly to other power related technologies.