Natcore Technology Inc (NTCXF)

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Natcore hopes global ambitions lead to expansion here, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Tom Tobin, Staff writer 10:56 a.m. EDT July 8, 2014

Natcore Technology, a New Jersey-based solar company with a research and development unit at the Eastman Business Park, has global growth ambitions that could expand the company's local operations, Natcore president and CEO Chuck Provini said.

Natcore announced a joint venture with Denzo Pty Ltd., an Australian alternative-energy company, to produce solar cells and panels there. That deal is part of a wider approach to form partnerships with companies in foreign countries in order to take advantage of a greater investment in those places in solar and other forms of alternative energy.

"They are much more established overseas than they are in the United States," Provini said. "The problem here is that traditional types of energy are too inexpensive. Elsewhere, people pay more and hence are more interested in alternative forms."

Provini said that if Natcore gets more business overseas, it is likely the operations in Rochester will grow accordingly. "I see a possibility for manufacturing in Rochester," Provini said.

Natcore already is partnering with companies in Germany and China in figuring out how lab work in solar technology could translate into manufacturing.

Provini said the company is seeking other such joint ventures.

Natcore Technology is part of the clean-energy business focus at the sprawling, 1,200-acre Eastman Business Park, which used to be the manufacturing center of Eastman Kodak's film and camera business. It is located in the city and the town of Greece.

Natcore last year signed a new lease at the park.

The R&D center has been working on finding less costly ways to make effective solar cells. To that end, the center has investigated black silicon, quantum dot solar cells and lasers for use in the manufacturing process.

Natcore technicians last November unveiled a new solar cell process they said would increase the solar surface area exposed to sunlight. Provini at the time that said such research will eclipse lower-quality work done in China and elsewhere.

Business growth at the Eastman Business Park is a priority for the Rochester region. The Rochester Regional Economic Development Agency has identified the park as the area's top economic resource.

The site benefits from extensive infrastructure used when Kodak's business was going full speed. The park is still owned by the company but a search for a new owner is underway.

Currently, the park has more than 50 business tenants.

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http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/money/business/2014/07/07/natcore-denzo-australia-solar-energy/12289337/