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Dow Corning Demonstrates Manufacturing Process and Materials that Significantly Increases Solar Panel Production Rates
Developmental encapsulant series and process being piloted at new Dow Corning Solar Solutions Application Center

02 Sep 2008 - Dow Corning Corp. has demonstrated a manufacturing process featuring new developmental silicone materials that significantly increases the production rate of solar panels, effectively lowering the cost per watt of solar power.
 
"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, Dow Corning Solar Market Business Unit.
 
The manufacturing process works in conjunction with developmental Dow Corning® PV-6100 Encapsulant series, which provides 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. The process and encapsulant series are being piloted by select solar partners in the new Dow Corning Solar Application Center in Freeland, Michigan and are expected to be commercially available in mid-2009.
 
"We’ve made significant progress in the past year in being able to take technology from the lab to production scale,” said Eric Peeters, global executive director, Dow Corning Solar Market Business Unit. "This solution is an example of our commitment to finding the best technical approaches for helping our customers meet their solar solution development challenges.”