DuPont Opens PV Application Laboratory in Geneva
DuPont has opened a PV application laboratory at its European Technical Center to develop new PV solar modules and technologies.
Staff -- PV Society, 2/1/2010
DuPont (Wilmington, Del.) has opened the Meyrin Photovoltaic Application Laboratory at its European Technical Center in Geneva, with the goal of designing and developing new solar PV modules and products.
"Addressing energy needs is a global concern; the generation and storage of renewable energy will be the fastest growing sector in the energy market for the next 20 years," said Ellen Kullman, DuPont chair and CEO. "We can apply the power of our market-driven science to offer products and technologies that can transform the sun's potential into clean energy, contributing to decreasing dependence on fossil fuels."
Activity at the Meyrin Photovoltaic Application Lab will focus on fostering technological exchanges and research collaborations between DuPont and customers, industrial partners, institutes and academia. The facility's stated mission is to advance solar module design, accelerate PV products' time to market, and provide the industry with cost-effective, high-performance solutions.
The Meyrin Photovoltaic Application Laboratory at the DuPont European Technical Center will add new capabilities to this R&D hub.
Among the company's recent solar product innovations is a building-integrated PV (BIPV) system, which replaces tile or slate roofs. According to the company, the system improves the ease and speed of installation, offers high energy efficiency, and delivers a high level of water tightness and building aesthetics. Initially developed for the French market, the BIPV system will be commercialized there in the first quarter of 2010, with other southern European markets following soon thereafter.
The company estimates that the PV market will grow by ~30% in 2010 and will continue growing rapidly over the next three years. Further, the firm expects overall sales of its PV industry products to exceed $1B by 2012.
