BioSolar back to basics as lower cost backsheet material needed

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Although heavily hyped as a low-cost alternative to conventional oil-based PV backsheet materials, start-up BioSolar said that it was to develop a new bio-based backsheet material that would aim to be of even lower cost in order to capture more customers. Back in March 2011, the company had said it was supplying sample material for PV module manufacturers based in Asia for evaluation.

“EcoBacksheet will incorporate much of the company’s proprietary knowledge accumulated during development of ‘BioBacksheet,’ which is currently available for commercial sale,” explained Dr. Stanley Levy, chief technology officer at BioSolar. “EcoBacksheet will incorporate a unique set of new materials and processing techniques to further reduce the cost of backsheet materials for PV panel manufacturers. EcoBacksheet is expected to appeal to a substantially wider range of PV panel applications due to its lower price point.”

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Although the company has claimed it has met Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) certification requirement for the commercial sale of its original backsheet material and partnered with Stevens Urethane for contract manufacture in the US, the revelation of identifiable users of the material in volume production remains elusive.

What is clear is that material providers along the PV value chain have been forced to meet PV module manufacturers' requirements for cost reductions to keep pace with persistent ASP declines.

Major material providers, especially for backsheet material have also increased production capacity over recent years to avoid the shortages previously experienced. With abundant supply and falling material prices, low-cost product offerings, while maintaining product lifetime requirements have made the market much more competitive than in the past.

BioSolar would seem to be a victim of current market conditions and like many suppliers are forced to return to lab to hopefully emerge with competitive products.
 

Read Next

September 12, 2025
Colombian energy supplier Celsia is seeking more than US$1.2 billion in investment to build wind and solar generation projects in Peru. 
September 12, 2025
German trade association BSW-Solar has called the German government for a simplified, standardised and more digitalised grid access for solar PV and energy storage operators.
September 12, 2025
ACME Venus Urja has secured INR3.8 billion (US$43 million) to develop and construct a solar-plus-storage project in Barmer, Rajasthan.
Premium
September 12, 2025
Vote Solar's Sean Garren tells PV Tech Premium that Georgia Power's latest IRP is 'skewed so heavily towards fossil fuels'.
September 11, 2025
Founder Group has won a RM10 million (US$2.3 million) engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract for a 30MW solar plant in Malaysia.
September 11, 2025
German renewable energy developer ib vogt has signed a 70MW solar PV virtual power purchase agreement (vPPA) in Romania.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines