BioSolar, Inc. announced
today that it has filed a patent application to protect the novel inventions
and processes behind its proprietary bio-based backsheet, a protective covering
for the back of photovoltaic solar cells traditionally made from expensive petroleum-based
film. The comprehensive patent application, filed earlier this week, is expected
to give BioSolar full protection on its BioBacksheet(TM) breakthrough technology
made from renewable plant sources that will reduce the cost per watt of solar
cells.
“As the solar industry aims to make the world a greener place, the reality
is that making solar cells currently relies on the use of petroleum based-products,”
said Dr. David Lee, CEO of BioSolar. “The goal of solar is to provide
power while reducing our dependence on the world’s petroleum supply and
the use of petro-based chemicals in the manufacturing process of green energy
presents a fundamental contradiction. Plus, our technology will reduce the final
cost per watt of solar electricity by allowing manufacturers to lower the cost
of their finished product without being impacted by the volatile cost of petroleum.”
Lee is leading a movement working to make “green” technologies
more environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient by developing alternatives
to petroleum. BioSolar’s intensive, 18-month research and development
program aimed at identifying sustainable resources for photovoltaic backsheet
development resulted in the company’s BioBacksheet, a cellulosic plastic
equivalent derived from cotton and castor beans materials.
Details of manufacturing methods are disclosed in the patent application, which
covers many breakthrough developments including the use of cellulosic film made
from cotton with additives and coatings, and also in combination with a type
of nylon derived from castor beans.
Expected to cost significantly less than traditional Tedlar®-based backsheet,
the petroleum-based film made by DuPont in use by the majority of silicon-based
solar-cell manufacturers today, BioBacksheet meets or exceeds the characteristics
of various testing and performance standards for the photovoltaic industry.
“We expect this breakthrough product to be rapidly accepted as the standard
for the backsheet component of both traditional and certain thin-film photovoltaic
modules,” said Lee. “Patent filing and protection of our intellectual
property is an important milestone as we continue our transition into full-scale
production with our contract manufacturing partner, Rowland Technologies, Inc.”