DSM, a global company active in health, nutrition and materials, has entered into a commercial alliance with Chinese backsheet producer Suzhou Sunshine New Materials Technology Co. to extend its offering to the solar photovoltaic (PV) market. DSM will exclusively market the Sunshine portfolio of innovative PV backsheet products based on patented Sunshine technology outside China. The partners will jointly operate to serve customers on the Chinese PV market.
Oscar Goddijn, Vice-President of DSM Advanced Surfaces, said: “DSM develops technologies and material concepts that increase the efficiency of solar modules, bringing down the cost of solar energy and helping to accelerate its penetration and its role in the energy mix. With this agreement we now have a great combination of the world’s best-performing anti-reflective coating technology and backsheet films with best-in-class durability and power gain. The combination of these two patented product ranges with our application and market expertise represents a significant step forward in boosting the performance and durability of PV modules in providing renewable energy.”
Backsheet materials protect photovoltaic modules from UV, moisture and other weather conditions. They also provide electrical insulation for the safety of people working with and near the module and internal reflection for enhanced performance.
The backsheets that DSM will bring to the market are made with a patented technology, a combination of co-extrusion and nano-composites, which is unique in the solar market. When compared to existing solutions, DSM backsheets have superior properties, particularly in terms of power output gain and durability.