May 5, 2005 – Konarka Technologies, Inc., a Lowell, Mass., developer of polymer photovoltaic products, signed a $1.6 million contract with the United States Army. As part of this new program, Konarka’s light-activated power plastic will provide critical power supply to soldier systems and Army support infrastructure.

To ensure soldiers can become less dependent on supply logistics and locally available power sources to charge batteries, Konarka will deliver its renewable energy generation capabilities to the Army in the devices, systems and structures that are normally deployed for remote operations. Power goes to the battlefield via equipment and supplies that already have to go into battle, including: Portable, lightweight AA battery chargers for individual soldiers to enhance the use of handheld electronics; Large-area structures, such as tents that silently produce electrical power for battery charging or direct use; Sensor systems, enabling extended unattended operation without regular maintenance to replace battery power.