DuPont Science Protecting Sensitive Solar Cells

These sheets – a small sampling of the 500 new products DuPont launched in the first quarter – are expected to improve durability and efficiency of photovoltaic modules.
DuPont’s new series of encapsulant sheets deliver long-term protection for the most sensitive part of PV modules – the solar cells. Solar cells (also called photovoltaic cells) capture energy from light and convert it into energy. Assemblies of solar cells are used to make solar panels, photovoltaic modules or photovoltaic arrays. To see a diagram of where encapsulants are used in these assemblies, click here.
 
The DuPont™ PV5200 Series assures glass adhesion with optimal visible light transmission. The clear, pliable material is available in a variety of thicknesses, and the sheets are designed to meet the needs of thin-film solar power generation. They enable faster, more efficient module production and longer service life.
 
DuPont™ PV5300 Series sheets are five times tougher and 100 times stiffer than materials typically used as encapsulants. Their structural properties make possible new module designs such as building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) tiles that can be installed on rooftops.
 
DuPont’s new PV encapsulant sheets also contribute to longer life and reduced cost-per-watt, helping system manufacturers deliver more reliable and cost-effective solar power.
 
“This is a fast-growing market opportunity for DuPont,” said Bill Weber, vice president and general manager -- DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers. “In the next five years we expect growth for these encapsulants exceeding 25% per year as the market looks for high-performance solutions such as these new offerings.”
 
DuPont has the largest portfolio of PV materials in the solar energy industry and new innovations like this help keep the company in its leadership position. For more information, visit the DuPont PV Solutions website.