NREL and 3M to Collaborate on Renewable Energy Research
Source/Type: News - Staff reports

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

March 31, 2010... The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a series of cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) with 3M of St. Paul, Minnesota. The agreements between NREL and 3M establish joint investigations in three key areas of innovation: thin-film photovoltaics, concentrating solar power and biofuels. 3M will colllaborate with the NREL to develop new moisture barrier films and flexible packaging for increased performance of CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) thin film solar cells, and they will also work to create new reflective coatings to protect and enhance the performance of lower-cost mirrors used in concentrating solar power. 3M and NREL have also agreed to find alternatives to ethanol biofuel distillation that will reduce energy and water use, and increase throughput in existing corn ethanol and future cellulosic ethanol production plants.

“CRADAs like these with 3M not only help shift the nation to clean energy, but they also establish and expand important partnerships for product development through technology transfer," NREL Senior Vice President of Commercialization and Deployment Casey Porto said.

"3M is excited for the opportunity to tap into NREL’s expertise and understanding of a variety of solar modules and the interplay between the materials and systems,” said Mike Roman, general manager and vice president of 3M Renewable Energy Division. 3M News Release

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