Solar module price erosion to cause industry fall-out, says Lux Research - 02 October 2008
U.S. House recesses, fails to pass tax bill, leaving solar, R&D credits in doubt - 29 September 2008
REC sold out of wafers for 2010 with $450 million order from Neo Solar Power - 30 September 2008
Sharp starts volume production at new thin-film plant - 01 October 2008
Solar investment tax credit extension will benefit U.S. utilities, SEPA believes - 05 October 2008
Emerging from stealth, Part III: Solyndra launches impressively, but questions remain - 10 October 2008
Canadian Solar inks 60-megawatt supply deal - 10 October 2008
Satcon to Deliver Prototype Next Generation Energy Storage Module to the US Navy - 10 October 2008
Up on the rooftop: Brightening prospects for solar technology - 10 October 2008
Sandia to manage DOE-funded solar projects - 10 October 2008
Specialty
chemicals company Solutia, Inc. has set up a dedicated business unit to
supply the thin-film photovoltaics manufacturing sector with its
‘Saflex’ polyvinyl butyral (PVB) encapsulation materials. Solutia said
that it was also increasing PVB capacity at span production sites in
Belgium, China, Mexico and the United States.
"As energy demand and public policy drive the rapid adoption of renewable energy, the global market for thin-film solar panels is growing at a rate of 40% per year," said Jeffry N. Quinn, Chairman, President and CEO of Solutia Inc. "Our Saflex business is the world's leading producer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer, which is emerging as the encapsulant of choice in the thin-film solar panel market. Within the next 7-10 years, our Saflex business expects to build photovoltaic into a third major market, which will be comparable in size to its traditional architectural and automotive markets."
"While the world market for PVB is tight, we expect to sell an increasing amount of Saflex PVB interlayer to photovoltaic customers," said Luc De Temmerman, Senior Vice President of Solutia, Inc. and President of Saflex, the new division being created. "Importantly, we will continue to invest in PVB capacity and technology to meet the growing demands of our current and future customers across the architectural, automotive, and photovoltaic markets."
