Santa Clara (CA) – One of the oldest chip companies of Silicon Valley has placed a big bet on green technology: National Semiconductor (NSC), is entering the photovoltaic market and announced a Solar Magic, a technology that promises to make today’s solar cells much more efficient in less than optimal light conditions.

Remember NSC? It is one of the big Silicon Valley chip makers, which most recently promoted consumer products during the dotcom boom in 2001 and pitched a UMPC-like tablet PC called (called Origami – and interestingly the same name that was chosen by Microsoft for its UMPC pitch in 2006). Since then, NSC has been flying under the radar of most of us and manufactured IC products for the audio, data conversion and power management segments. NSC has been hit hard by the dotcom bust and many ideas of CEO Brian Halla were buried. But NSC has adjusted its product strategy countless times since its founding in 1959 and it appears that the company is entering a new phase with the general green technology trend.
        
NSC apparently found some opportunities in solar paneling and is looking to expand its business into the green industry. In May, Halla hinted that a new technology would be introduced to make solar panels more efficient and since last week we know what the executive was talking about. NSC promises that its Solar Magic technology can recoup as much as 50% of lost output in solar systems due to issues such as debris and shade.

External factors that prevent the paneling from being as efficient as possible are among the major concerns in today’s solar industry. Dust that accumulates over time as well as trees and buildings can cause shade over the paneling cause sunlight to be blocked, panels can be stained by leaves or other debris and panel mismatches reduce the output of solar panel installations.

NSC did not provide any information on how Solar Magic works and how the technology is integrated into today’s solar panels. However, a product demonstration on NSC’s website suggests that Solar Magic solar panels work just as efficient as regular solar cells under full-light conditions, but retain higher output as soon as the panels are moved into shadows. If NSC in fact ahs found a way to make solar cells more efficient in low-light conditions, the company could have a significant new technology on its hands.
 
NSC said is trying to sell the technology to solar installers, with plans to later reach out to manufacturers. REgrid Power, a California-based installer, stated that Solar Magic improved the energy output in systems that are shaded by 44% and overall by 12%.

NSC made attempts at energy efficiency in the past, but it is not the only traditional chip manufacturer trying to find its opportunity in greentech. Other companies who have worked towards making a name for themselves in the solar world are Cypress Semiconductor, which created SunPower, IBM is working on JV to come up with thin film solar technology, Intel recently spun off its solar research into a company called SpectraWatt and Applied Materials has been buying its way into the solar equipment market lately as well.