Abstract
CHEMICAL FIRMS that supply raw materials to the solar industry are abuzz with plans to satisfy steeply rising demand. As a result, photovoltaic manufacturers looking to expand can expect fewer supply bottlenecks, better products, and lower prices for critical solar components. DuPont will more than double capacity for its Tedlar films, which are used in photovoltaic backsheets, starting in late 2009. The polyvinyl fluoride films provide resistance to weather, ultraviolet radiation, and moisture for both traditional polycrystalline silicon and newer thin-film solar cells. “The photovoltaic industry is in the midst of a substantial surge globally,” says Cynthia C. Green, vice president of DuPont Fluoroproducts. DuPont anticipates that the industry’s 50% growth rate will boost its solar product sales to more than $1 billion annually within the next five years. The rise in demand is also sparking innovations to decrease the cost per watt of solar electricity. Dow Corning just announced the development of a cl...
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