Feb 4 2010
DuPont opened the Meyrin Photovoltaic (PV) Application Laboratory at the European Technical Center in Meyrin, Switzerland, this week to meet the needs of the fast-growing solar energy market. This lab expands capabilities at the leading European R&D hub for DuPont teams developing next-generation products.
The Meyrin PV Application Lab in Geneva.
More than 50 representatives from the solar energy industry joined government leaders, DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman and Ian Hudson, president - DuPont Europe, Middle East and Africa, for opening ceremonies.
"Addressing energy needs is a global concern," Ellen said. "The generation and storage of renewable energy will be the fastest growing sector in the energy market for the next 20 years. We can apply the power of our market-driven science to offer products and technologies that can transform the sun's potential into clean energy, contributing to decreasing dependence on fossil fuels."
The Meyrin PV Application Lab empowers technological exchanges and research collaboration among DuPont and customers, industrial partners, institutes and academia. The lab is designed to advance state-of-the-art solar module design, accelerate marketing of PV innovations and deliver cost-effective, high-performance solutions.
An innovative building-integrated PV (BIPV) panel system that replaces tile or slate roofs is one example of open innovation and integrated science. Developed at the lab in collaboration with DuPont businesses, Building Innovations and Performance Polymers, as well as industry partners, the BIPV application significantly improves the ease and speed of installation, offers high energy efficiency, exceptional water tightness and superior building aesthetics.
"At DuPont, responding to sustainability challenges often involves looking at where science and other capabilities intersect," Ian said. "The new Meyrin PV Application Lab will allow us to collaborate more closely with our customers in the PV industry, provide local technical support and develop the next generation of products for the global PV market."