DuPont today announced plans with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a $9 million solar research program --- part of the company’s overall effort in providing more mainstream solar photovoltaic (PV) products for commercial and residential applications. The DOE funding 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 is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy on a $9 million solar research program to enable the broad, commercial production of durable, long lasting, lightweight, high efficiency, flexible photovoltaic modules. (High Resolution)The three-year program is designed to accelerate commercialization of an ultra-thin protective film --more than 3,000 times thinner than a human hair -- that prevents moisture from degrading the performance of thin-film PV modules, a key challenge in the past. 

Thin film PV modules are projected to be the fastest growing segment of the solar module industry because of their potential to reduce the cost of producing solar-derived energy --- helping solar energy become more competitive with other forms of energy generation. Thin film PV panels can be made with flexible plastic instead of glass, and can be bent and wrapped, offering greater versatility and easier integration into the roofing, windows or siding of a commercial or residential building. Environmental degradation can take place without glass protecting the sensitive portions of the module. DuPont will provide $6 million and the DOE will contribute $3 million to the program. 

Ultimately, the DOE funded program will help enable the broad, commercial production of flexible PV modules that are durable and lightweight with higher efficiency. The initial focus of the program is on Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) type thin film PV modules, however, the technology could be leveraged into other PV technologies and potentially into other industries.