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DuPont Opens Thin-Film Photovoltaic Production Facility

November 30, 2009 by Jeff Shepard

DuPont Apollo Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of DuPont, announced the opening of its silicon based thin-film photovoltaic module manufacturing facility. The company says the facility demonstrates its commitment to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by supporting renewable energy technologies such as solar energy.

The 538,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility will have an annual capacity of up to 50MW with a thin-film-on-glass photovoltaic module production line. Full-scale commercial production is targeted for the first quarter 2010. In addition to providing innovative thin-film photovoltaic modules that are fully International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) certified, DuPont Apollo offers a total system solution focused on the China domestic market to help safeguard customers’ long-term investments in renewable power generation.

"Next generation solar technologies are a critical market opportunity for DuPont to deliver more secure, environmentally sustainable and affordable energy sources for people everywhere," said David B. Miller, President – DuPont Electronics & Communications. "Through our work in this venture, DuPont will use its science to produce thin-film solar modules that can help make solar energy a more viable alternative for everyone."

"The facility is unique because this is the first total solar energy solution provider in China. Under the ‘Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle,’ we have combined our research and development capability with this state-of-the-art facility to support the continued growth of the photovoltaic market," said Douglas W. Muzyka, President – DuPont Greater China.

DuPont expects the photovoltaic market will grow rapidly over the next several years due to a surge in innovation aimed at transforming a global petroleum-based economy into one that increasingly and effectively uses non-depletable resources. DuPont expects that overall sales of its family of products into the photovoltaic industry will exceed $1 billion by 2012.

DuPont has two independent initiatives in the photovoltaic market. DuPont Apollo Ltd., established in 2008, and DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, a material and technology supplier to the industry with more than 25 years of experience in photovoltaic materials development and manufacturing serving both the crystalline silicon and thin film cell and module markets.