DuPont and U.S. Dept. of Energy Partner on Thin Film Solar Program
Source/Type: Reported News

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

July 1, 2009... DuPont reports that it is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy on a $9 million solar research program. The funding for the program comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed earlier this year with the support of U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman. DuPont will provide $6 million and the DOE will contribute $3 million to the program. DuPont is one of about 25 technology companies nationwide receiving Recovery Act grants totalling $22 million to research or demonstrate photovoltaic projects. The federal agency's goal is for the solar technology to contribute equally to the power grid by 2015.

According to Dupont, the three-year program is designed to accelerate commercialization of an ultra-thin protective film that the company boasts is more than 3,000 times thinner than a human hair. The protective film prevents moisture from degrading the performance of thin-film PV modules such as copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). According to the company, the first focus of the program is on CIGS thin-film PV modules, however, the technology could be leveraged into other PV technologies and potentially into other industries. DuPont News Release

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