DuPont Expands Licensing Agreement with Toppan to Boost Production of Tedlar® PV2400 for Solar Modules
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Increases High-Performance Backsheet Availability for Growing Photovoltaic Market
WILMINGTON, Del.- DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials (DuPont) announced it has expanded the rights of a technology license agreement with Toppan Inc. Printing Co. LTD that will double Toppan's immediate supply capability for the full-scale commercial production of DuPont(TM) Tedlar® PV2400 polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film. Tedlar® is the industry standard for high-performing protective backsheets for solar modules and is the only material with 25 plus years of proven in-field performance.
"Demand for Tedlar® is growing and an essential element of meeting that demand is expanding the immediate supply capability with Tedlar® PV2400 at Toppan," said John Odom, global business director - DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials. "This agreement demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can support our growing industry and benefit our customers by providing critical materials that deliver proven durability and maximize power output over time for solar modules."
Tedlar® PV2400 PVF film utilizes materials produced by a $295 million expansion investment the company has recently made to more than double Tedlar® production capacity in 2011.
"A growing number of leading module makers are qualifying and certifying Tedlar® PV2400 for their modules, and we anticipate even greater demand in the future," said Hiroshi Iwase, division director, Toppan Functional Products Division. "We are pleased with the success of our collaboration with DuPont, and excited about further expanding our supply capability. We also are exploring new innovations in backsheet products based on Tedlar® PV2400 technology to meet our customers' future needs."
In 2008, DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials developed a proprietary technology to produce backsheet containing Tedlar® in a single step, and signed the initial technology licensing agreement with Toppan to commercialize backsheet for photovoltaic modules using the technology. Unique to Tedlar® PV2400 technology is the flexibility to customize backsheet designs to address specific market segment needs within the photovoltaic industry, supporting cost roadmaps to enable grid parity and the continued growth of the solar industry. This technical and business development remains a key element of DuPont's strategic intent to significantly increase the availability of DuPont(TM) Tedlar® films and backsheet offerings and to extend the lifetime of photovoltaic modules for the fast-growing solar energy industry.
DuPont(TM) Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride films are part of the broad and growing portfolio of products represented by DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, which connects science and technology from across the company on a global scale to help support the dramatic growth of the photovoltaic industry. To learn more about DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, visit photovoltaics.dupont.com.
DuPont is applying the power of its science to help reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels. DuPont has a range of market-leading products that serve the renewable energy industry, including enabling materials for photovoltaics, biofuels, renewably sourced materials and technologies engineered to improve energy efficiency.
DuPont (www.dupont.com) is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 90 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
Contact: Ellen G. Pressley
919-248-5598
ellen.g.pressley@usa.dupont.com
