Photovoltaic Energy: What is it?

PV Energy is the science of converting light into electrical energy, and it is achieved through the use of semiconductors, or photovoltaic solar cells. Semiconductive silicon wafers are metallized using special formulated metallic inks or thick pastes, producing a working solar cell. Cell assemblies are encapsulated into watertight modules for protection from moisture and impacts. The resulting assembly is referred to as a solar panel or module. The principle components of a crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules are the glass glazing,  encapsulant, the silicon wafers and associated wiring, and a protective backsheet.

Today, the photovoltaic industry is experiencing rapid growth as people around the world turn to alternative technologies, like photovoltaics, to supply the demands that rapidly depleting fossil energies will not be able to meet.

What is the benefit of PV power?

Few power-generation technologies have as little impact on the environment as photovoltaics. As it quietly generates electricity from light, PV produces no air pollution or hazardous waste. It does not require liquid or gaseous fuels to be transported or combusted. There are no moving parts to break or wear out. And because its energy source—sunlight—is free and abundant, PV systems can guarantee access to electric power.

Photovoltaic Energy: What does DuPont bring?

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. The company offers a wide range of innovative products and services for the industry with a great deal of materials and technical expertise for the module systems used today. In addition, DuPont is committed to an ever-increasing innovative focus in advanced materials and services for the photovoltaic systems of tomorrow.

Today, DuPont offers a broad and growing portfolio of films, resins for encapsulants, encapsulant films, conductive pastes and resins for junction boxes  for photovoltaic modules, designed to help customers increase the number of watts per manufacturing dollar, increase the efficiency and lifetime of solar modules, and meet green manufacturing guidelines. These materials include:

• Front Sheets:
  • DuPont™ Teflon® fluoropolymer film , used for the transparent cover layer in flexible solar modules. It offers superior mechanical strength against cracking and abrasion, nearly 100 percent transparency and great flexibility.
  
  
• Metallization:
  • DuPont™ Solamet® metalization compositions, a system of conductive thick film metalization materials that provide improved efficiency levels and lower cost per watt to PV modules.
  • In June, 2005, DuPont launched a new lead-free addition to the DuPont™ Solamet® family of thick film pastes designed for the metallization of solar cells. The new DuPont™ Solamet® lead free metallization system is not only environmentally friendlier, it offers exceptional electrical performance and greater reliability for PV modules.
  
  
• Encapsulation
  • DuPont™ Elvax® EVA resins, clean, clear, durable polymers for solar cell encapsulant sheeting
  • DuPont™ Surlyn® thermoplastic resins, an encapsulant alternative to Elvax®, that gives outstanding impact toughness, abrasion resistance, and clarity
  • DuPont™ Sentryglas® interlayers , which help improve long-term weather resistance for solar panels with two sheets of glass. Also safety glass rating.
  
  
• Back Sheets:
  • DuPont™ Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) films, preferred as the functional component of backing sheet laminates for PV modules due to its excellent strength, weather resistance, UV resistance, and moisture barrier properties.
  • In October, 2005, DuPont announced it is significantly expanding its capacity to produce DuPont™ Tedlar® (PVF) film by 2007, due to increased demand in photovoltaic module manufacturing for its weatherability, mechanical strength and reliable long life performance.
  • Mylar® and Melinex® brand polyester films are the preferred materials for composite backsheet laminates (TPT).

• Junction Boxes:
  • Rynite® PET thermoplastic resins offer an excellent balance of properties which make this family of resins an ideal candidate for the manufacturing of junction boxes in photovoltaic solar panels.

DuPont also offers value to the photovoltaic industry through a vast network of partners that provide additional product offerings and services that expand and enhance those of its main portfolio. If you are seeking a solution for your photovoltaic application, look to DuPont first. Global marketing, technical, and manufacturing capabilities make collaboration with DuPont on new materials easy.