DSM increases capacity for innovative solar coatings

25-Oct-12

Royal DSM has announced plans to increase the installed manufacturing capacity for KhepriCoat® anti-reflective coating. The additional capacity is expected to be on stream by the end of 2012 at the Chemelot site in Geleen, the Netherlands. The need for additional coating supply is a direct result of the fast growing market for solar energy. KhepriCoat® anti-reflective glass coating is an IP protected product, developed by the DSM Innovation Center. The coating is primarily targeted at solar applications. The coating – a thin layer with a thickness of approximately 100 – 150 nm – is applied to the cover glass of solar modules and strongly reduces the reflection of sun-light. As a result, more sun-light passes through the glass, increasing the energy output of these modules by up to 4%. Solar energy is widely recognized as an important fast-growing alternative and renewable source of energy. Although by the end of this year, worldwide 100GW of PV capacity will be installed (source: EPIA global PV market outlook until 2016) generating around 100TWh, solar energy still has a huge potential for significant further growth.