New Photovoltaic Solutions At European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference

The Dow Chemical Company will showcase its new solutions designed for photovoltaic manufacturers at this year's 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (PVSEC) in Valencia, Spain (stand L3/H4/B4, Hall 4, Feria Valencia).

Dow's photovoltaic solutions can help increase solar cell efficiency and solar module durability, improve device performance at lower cost, and enable widespread adoption of solar energy. Solutions being showcased include:

+ Dow's ENLIGHT cleaning, texturizing, imaging and metallization solutions to enhance performance in solar cell manufacturing,

+ Dow's ADCOTE and MOR-FREE adhesives for module fabrication for long-term durability with improved environmental profile,

+ Dow's new innovative ENLIGHT Polyolefin Encapsulant Films used as protective encapsulants help lower total module system costs and provide for improved productivity and extended reliability,

+ DOWTHERM and SYLTHERM heat transfer fluid solutions for solar grade silicon production,

+ Dow's Polyglycol CF fluid for a higher quality experience in slicing silicon wafers.

Solar cell efficiency is the primary measure of device performance. Higher cell efficiencies translate into lower costs, which enable widespread adoption of this renewable energy alternative. Dow Electronic Materials business' ENLIGHT metallization, imaging, cleaning and texturizing materials enable improvements in solar cell efficiency, and lower the solar cell manufacturing cost.

As the leader in front side metallization using plating chemistry, Dow's products have successfully been used in commercial scale cell production.

Long-term durability is another key performance measure for photovoltaic module producers. An industrial user or consumer installing a solar panel on its roof expects it to keep running for the next 20 to 25 years. Thus durable materials are selected by module producers to build photovoltaic panels.

Dow Adhesive and Functional Polymers business offers a range of durable adhesives for photovoltaic applications. ADCOTE adhesives exhibit excellent bonding strength properties, good UV stability, high thermal resistance and very good hydrolysis resistance. MOR-FREE solventless adhesives offer demonstrated laminating capabilities with an improved environmental profile.

ENLIGHT Polyolefin Encapsulant Films are used in the protective layer of photovoltaic modules. The processing and performance benefits of these films can reduce cycle times and improve productivity when the module is produced, and help extend module reliability and service life when in use.

Dow's innovation for photovoltaic extends beyond the above products. As the global leader for heat transfer solutions, Dow offers SYLTHERM and DOWTHERM Fluids not only for Photovoltaic polysilicon purification process, but also for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) industry. The fluids provide a wide choice of solutions for high and low temperature environments, with outstanding thermo-stability.

In addition to products being showcased, Dow Polyglycols, Surfactants and Fluids business is dedicating resources to the research of a new carrier fluid for the specialized slicing of silicone wafers.

The carrier fluid disperses the abrasives, carries away heat, and provides more lubricity. The next generation fluid will enable a more stable and better quality cutting experience, promoting a reduction in slurry consumption.