Energy is potentially the most important issue facing the world today. The environmental impact of meeting the growing demand for electricity using traditional fossil fuels is significant. Carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase to 3.3 billion metric tons by 2025, with coal (the source of 50% of electrical power in the U.S. and 40% worldwide) being the primary contributor. Renewable energy sources – such as wind and solar energy – hold great promise as green energy alternatives with the additional benefits of inexhaustible supply and energy security.

Photovoltaics – Energy from the Sun

Photovoltaics (PV) involve products and technology that are used to convert the solar energy from the sun directly into electrical energy. The solar power market has grown dramatically since the early 1990’s with a greater than 26% average annual growth rate. The majority of PV cells and modules shipped today are based on crystalline silicon technology, but alternative approaches based on thin films are rapidly gaining acceptance.

Southwall Opportunity – From Conserve to Create

PV is a natural extension for Southwall. The anti-reflective, transparent-conductive and thermal-insulating properties of our films are ideally suited to enhance the performance and lower the cost of PV modules, whether based on crystalline silicon or thin film technology. We believe that the next stage of explosive growth in the PV industry will be fueled by innovation on the manufacturing floor, and we are exploring innovative ways to leverage our 25 years of large area thin film manufacturing expertise to dramatically alter the economics of PV.

Please contact us at pv@southwall.com if you are interested in speaking with us about potential opportunities.