Royal DSM (Heerlen, the Netherlands; www.dsm.com) announced that it has acquired the technology and other assets of Suzhou SunShine New Materials Technology Co. — the manufacturer of a novel, high-performance solar photovoltaic (PV) backsheet based on co-extrusion technology.
In 2016, DSM entered into a commercial alliance with Sunshine. Now, through this acquisition, DSM will expand its product portfolio for the solar PV market to include polymer sheets that protect PV solar cells. Financial details have not been disclosed.
Solar energy has become an important source in the global energy mix over the past decade. Building on the success of its industry-leading anti-reflective coating, DSM now aims to commercialize a portfolio of innovations focused on lowering the cost of solar energy by providing solid, durable and sustainable materials solutions: Same sun. More power.™
Against this backdrop, new technologies have emerged for the Solar PV market, resulting in high-performance backsheets at affordable cost. With this technology acquisition, DSM embraces a new generation of innovative, adhesive- and non-fluorinated backsheets – balancing the needs of the rapidly developing PV industry with the need to protect the environment through sustainable products.
China-based Sunshine was identified as having a strong fit with the strategy and ambition of DSM because it produces high-performance, innovative backsheet products with a proprietary technology base. In particular, Sunshine has developed new backsheet products using co-extrusion technology, which eliminates the risk of interlayer adhesion and delivers superior performance characteristics compared to current laminated backsheets. The co-extrusion process also enables flexibility in new product designs, adding even more value for customers.
“Sunshine has been able to combine unique high performance and cost-efficiency without using fluorinated materials,” says Oscar Goddijn, Vice President DSM Advanced Surfaces. “As a high-end, cost-effective, non-fluorinated and fully recyclable product, this backsheet fits very well into DSM’s overall product portfolio and sustainability strategy.”
Dr. Weiming Jiang, DSM China President, says: “The acquisition aligns with DSM’s sustainable development strategy, and also fits with China’s 13th Five-year Plan for Energy. It further demonstrates DSM’s support for growing local products made for global consumption and for expanding China’s clean and green energy market.”