Dow Chemical has started the ENLIGHT polyolefin encapsulant film production in the Map Ta Phut, Thailand site for photovoltaic solar panel applications.
Dow is committed to harnessing the power of the sun and turning it into useful energy. (Photo: Business Wire)
The advanced Map Ta Phut production facility enables Dow Chemical to immediately increase its worldwide production capacity by two fold. The company is also building a third production facility for this polyolefin encapsulant film on a site in Schkopau, Germany. It also operates a manufacturing facility in Findlay, Ohio.
Dow Chemical’s polyolefin-based encapsulant films deliver panel manufacturers with unique benefits over other materials. ENLIGHT films extend the operating life of modules as they have enhanced moisture resistance and better electrical properties. The company’s research demonstrates that ENLIGHT films help photovoltaic solar panels retain efficiency when assessed in damp heat conditions for over 10,000 h. The panels made of ENLIGHT film also demonstrate considerable enhancement in PID resistance, thanks to the film’s remarkable electrical insulation properties.
ENLIGHT films help panel manufacturers achieve a 30% reduction in lamination cycle times, thus improving capacity and yield. Since these films do not generate corrosion-causing acetic acid, they enable panel makers to decrease damage to modules and equipment. According to performance-based tests carried out by TUV Rheinland, solar panels made of these films met all industry specifications (IEC 61215).
Dow Chemical provides several commercial grades of ENLIGHT encapsulant films to allow customers design formulations based on their specific requirements. Besides offering ENLIGHT encapsulant films, the company also produces MOR-FREE solvent-free laminating adhesives and ADCOTE solvent-based adhesives for polyglycol heat transfer fluids, electronic materials for photoelectric cell production, backsheet products, and DOW POWERHOUSE solar shingles for use in residential applications.