May 2, 2008—Global Solar Energy, a solar industry leader that manufactures highly efficient, thin-film solar cells for glass modules or flexible material products, has announced Dow Building Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, has invited Global Solar to participate in its US Department of Energy Solar America Initiative (SAI) project to help create innovative building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products.
As a part of its SAI program, Dow is creating a flexible solar roof shingle and has made Global Solar a key team member in its development.
The SAI is composed of companies, laboratories, universities and non-profit organizations. As part of the initiative, Dow is participating in the Technology Pathway Partnership, which was designed to accelerate the commercialization of US-produced solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Global Solar Energy replaced Dow’s original PV material provider in this program.
The mission of the SAI is to create solar electricity cost competitiveness with grid electricity by 2015. The use of flexible CIGS thin-film technologies in building-integrated applications is a key component to that effort, helping lower the cost of solar electricity so that it is cost-competitive across all US market sectors.
For more information, visit the Global Solar Web site.
