DuPont Expands Agreement with Toppan to Boost Production of Tedlar

DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials (DuPont) announced it has expanded the rights of a technology license agreement with Toppan Inc. Printing Co. LTD that will double Toppan’s immediate supply capability for the full-scale commercial production of DuPont Tedlar PV2400 polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film.

Tedlar is the industry standard for high-performing protective backsheets for solar modules and is the only material with 25 plus years of proven in-field performance.

Tedlar PV2400 PVF film utilizes materials produced by a $295 million expansion investment the company has recently made to more than double Tedlar production capacity in 2011.

In 2008, DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials developed a proprietary technology to produce backsheet containing Tedlar® in a single step, and signed the initial technology licensing agreement with Toppan to commercialize backsheet for photovoltaic modules using the technology. Unique to Tedlar PV2400 technology is the flexibility to customize backsheet designs to address specific market segment needs within the photovoltaic industry, supporting cost roadmaps to enable grid parity and the continued growth of the solar industry. This technical and business development remains a key element of DuPont’s strategic intent to significantly increase the availability of DuPont Tedlar films and backsheet offerings and to extend the lifetime of photovoltaic modules for the fast-growing solar energy industry.

DuPont Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride films are part of the broad and growing portfolio of products represented by DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, which connects science and technology from across the company on a global scale to help support the dramatic growth of the photovoltaic industry.

DuPont is applying the power of its science to help reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. DuPont has a range of market-leading products that serve the renewable energy industry, including enabling materials for photovoltaics, biofuels, renewably sourced materials and technologies engineered to improve energy efficiency.