Dow Corning aims to decrease cost of solar power with manufacturing process
The silicone-based material provides higher watt efficiency, longer module life, and optimum UV resistance. Equipment for the new process requires less capital and less factory space, Dow Corning said.
By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- EDN, September 1, 2008
Aimed at significantly increases the production rate of solar panels to lower the cost per watt of solar power, Midland, Mich-based Dow Corning Corp has demonstrated a manufacturing process featuring new developmental silicone materials that works with the company’s developmental PV-6100 encapsulant products, which allows a clear laminate to protect each solar cell in a panel and can replace commonly used ethyl vinyl acetate resin.
The silicone-based material provides higher watt efficiency, longer module life, and optimum UV resistance. Equipment for the new process requires less capital and less factory space, Dow Corning noted.
“This technology represents a real step-change in the industry, and will help make solar power a viable and sustainable energy option globally,” said Gaetan Borgers, global industry director for Dow Corning’s solar market business unit, in a statement.
The manufacturing process and encapsulant materials are being tested by solar partners in Dow Corning’s solar application center in Freeland, Michigan and are expected to be commercially available in mid-2009.
Eric Peeters, global executive director for Dow Corning’s solar market business unit added, “We’ve made significant progress in the past year in being able to take technology from the lab to production scale. This solution is an example of our commitment to finding the best technical approaches for helping our customers meet their solar solution development challenges.”
