BioSolar, Inc. (OTCBB:BSRC),
developer of a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable
plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic solar modules, today announced
its plan to expand the company's BioBacksheet™ technology to accommodate
copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film
modules.
Currently, the company’s patent-pending BioBacksheet™ technology
for crystalline silicon (C-Si) photovoltaic solar cells is in the pre-production
phase. Designed to replace petroleum-based components with renewable plant sources,
the BioBacksheet™ is a premium-grade backsheet consisting of a cellulosic
film combined with a highly water resistant and high dielectric strength nylon
film made from castor beans.
“At present, the C-Si area is the largest photovoltaic market segment,”
said Dr. David Lee, BioSolar chairman and CEO. “However, at BioSolar we
recognize that the low-cost potential of thin-film modules, particularly CIGS
and CdTe, are emerging as formidable competitors in the global solar market
and attracting gigantic investments. Many of these thin film PV manufacturers
have expressed strong interests for a “green” backsheet to be incorporated
into their thin-film solar panels.”
In a new solar report forecasting production and comparing technologies, "PV
Technology, Production and Cost, 2009 Forecast,” Greentech Media analysts
report that “companies making cadmium-telluride panels could produce nearly
1.5 gigawatts, or 6 percent, of the global supply by 2012.” The report
also said that in the same time frame, “companies that make copper-indium-gallium-selenide
solar panels could produce 12 percent, or nearly 3 gigawatts, of the worldwide
supply of solar panels.”
“These products require a backsheet comprising an almost perfect moisture
barrier,” said Dr. Stanley Levy, BioSolar’s Chief Technology Officer.
“Currently, glass is the material of choice. It works, but it is heavy
and expensive. In response, we have started development on a BioBacksheet with
the required barrier properties for this application. It is a composite film
consisting of bio-based and 100% recyclable materials. The resulting product
is expected to be much lighter than glass as well as lower cost.”
“The greatest impediment to solar replacing fossil fuels is cost,”
said Lee. “Manufacturers struggling to make these technologies cost-effective
are increasingly looking to various material choices. We expect this breakthrough
product to be rapidly adopted as the standard for the backsheet component of
both traditional as well as thin-film photovoltaic modules.”