DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions & Distributed Sun Collaborate on Standards for High Reliability Solar Modules
Easing & Accelerating Solar Energy Adoption
WILMINGTON, Del. and WASHINGTON, D.C. - DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions (DuPont) and Distributed Sun LLC (D-SUN) today announced they are collaborating to help drive increased adoption of solar energy through the D-SUN Distributed Solar Network(TM). Together the companies will advocate best practice specifications, promote data transparency and provide access to a comprehensive suite of analytical tools to benefit the growing solar energy industry. The aim is to facilitate project specifications that will better inform the decisions of system owners, investors and users. DuPont will help guide D-SUN on specifications for materials that deliver improved efficiency, lifetime and lower overall system costs to maximize returns for solar installations, and reduce investment risk.
"It's not enough to know who makes your modules, you have to know what's in them," said William F. Feehery, global business director, DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions. "Solar modules today are made with a complex assortment of materials, and given the intense cost pressures the industry faces, the results can be inconsistent. Materials matter, and understanding how to specify materials can make the difference between a project's success and failure. DuPont is uniquely qualified to provide insights on materials science in solar, and together with D SUN, we're making it easy to build key materials selection in to the planning process."
DuPont is the leading materials supplier to the photovoltaic industry globally (ex. silicon). DuPont materials are in over half of the world's 300 million solar panels installed since 1975 and have been time-tested for over 5 trillion outdoor panel-hours.
"This program will bring together the entire solar industry value chain in ways that benefit all market constituents," said Chase Weir, chief executive officer, Distributed Sun. "By increasing transparency, our collaboration drives optimal module selection standards with a preferred bill of materials and a standardized bill of materials for solar installations. Improving solar value for ratepayers, taxpayers, capital markets, policy-makers and the environment is our shared commitment. We look forward to a long cooperation with DuPont across our shared missions - where distributed solar energy generation provides a significant share of our electricity portfolio."
The Distributed Solar Network(TM) is a commercial solar development model, delivering best-practice methods aligned with the rapidly changing industry landscape. In addition to project sourcing and funding, network members have access to truSolar(TM) - an industry-driven standard for project selection, underwriting and approval. These services are available to developers, installers and integrators nationwide through D-SUN. D-SUN's suite of custom analytics is quickly becoming the industry's accepted best-practice for solar market decision-making within the commercial, industrial and public segments.
D-SUN has enlisted 42 members from 21 states and constituting 440 megawatt of solar projects since the second quarter of this year. D-SUN's goal is to assess nearly 1.5 gigawatts of distributed solar projects through next year, providing database reliability and real-time fleet data collection.
Distributed Sun LLC (D-Sun) is an industry-leading commercial solar developer. Through its Solar Energy Investment Companies (SEICs), D-Sun develops, finances, constructs, owns and operates commercial scale solar energy systems throughout the United States. D-Sun and its SEICs provide all the development capital required to take a project from selection to completion using sponsor equity, tax equity, and syndicated construction and term debt finance. For additional information, please visit http://www.distributedsun.com/.
DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions (DPVS) represents a broad and growing portfolio of materials which connects science and technology from across the company on a global scale to help support the dramatic growth in the photovoltaic industry. To learn more, please visit http://photovoltaics.dupont.com/.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.
Contacts:
DuPont
Ellen G. Pressley
919-248-5598
ellen.g.pressley@usa.dupont.com
Distributed Sun
Nick Kasza
202-618-6412
nick.k@distributedsun.com
