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Two new encapsulant film types to improve long-term photovoltaic module performance and reliability
Borealis and Borouge, leading providers of innovative, value-creating plastics solutions, announce the introduction of two new encapsulant film types based on two new Quentys™ polyolefin (PO) grades. The companies launched Quentys in 2017 as the umbrella brand for solar grades and products. Borealis Quentys PO encapsulant film now improves the operational reliability of photovoltaic (PV) modules throughout product lifetime, offering better cost efficiency and a sustainable solution for PV modules.
Borealis Quentys PO encapsulant film improves operational reliability and cost efficiency of solar modules
Two types of Borealis PO encapsulant film are included in the initial launch:
• BPO8828F: front or back encapsulant film in all types of solar modules;
• BPO8828WH: white reflective back encapsulant film for dual glass or standard modules.
Borealis PO encapsulant film can help optimise PV module production, resulting in lower costs per watts peak (Wp) thanks to:
• Up to 50% reduction in lamination cycle in PV module production;
• Lower investment costs required for increasing output capacity of module production;
• Better spread of fixed costs across more modules, with lower per unit module costs.
Borealis PO encapsulant film is the second major application based on Quentys to be launched in 2018, and follows the introduction in May of ICOSOLAR® CPO 3G, a co-extruded polypropylene (PP) solar backsheet developed in partnership with ISOVOLTAIC SOLINEX GmbH, a global market and technology leader in backsheets.
Borealis Quentys PO encapsulant film (borealisempoweringsolar.com) will be available to customers around the globe as of the beginning of third quarter of 2018.
Like other new applications in the Quentys family, Borealis PO encapsulant film will play a role in empowering and revolutionizing the solar industry. Borealis and Borouge have formed new strategic partnerships along the entire solar value chain to deliver step-change innovations like Borealis Quentys PO encapsulant film to market. The encapsulant film is produced by partners in Europe and Asia and will be marketed and sold by Borealis and Borouge.
Extensive independent testing has confirmed that Borealis PO encapsulant film based on Quentys extends the lifetime of solar modules and offers increased power output over the lifespan of the module. Borealis PO encapsulant film consistently outperforms conventional ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) on desirable properties by reducing UV-induced module degradation and moisture-induced corrosion, and lowering the incidence of electrochemical failures.
“Solar power has the potential to transform the global electricity industry. We see our new solar brand Quentys and the novel applications derived from it as an ideal platform to apply our Value Creation through Innovation approach to solar energy“, states Maria Ciliberti, Borealis Vice President Marketing & New Business Development. “With our new business model of providing encapsulant film to photovoltaic model makers, we keep discovering innovative ways of making renewable energy sources increasingly viable throughout the world.”
According to the International Energy Agency’s Renewables 2017 report, Solar leads the charge in another record year for renewables: boosted by a strong solar PV market, renewables accounted for almost two-thirds of net new power capacity around the world in 2016, with almost 165 gigawatts (GW) coming online. According to this report, new solar PV capacity around the world grew by 50% last year, reaching over 74 GW, with China accounting for almost half of this expansion. For the first time, solar PV additions rose faster than any other fuel, surpassing the net growth in coal.[1]
Borealis and Borouge have been leading providers of polyolefin compounds for the global energy industry for over 50 years. With an unparalleled track record in Value Creation through Innovation, they have widened the scope of their energy industry endeavours to include solar. As reliable and trusted suppliers with a truly global reach, Borealis and Borouge are uniquely positioned to deliver step-change innovations to the market in order to enable their partners and customers to exploit the full potential of solar.
[1]. iea.org/renewables/
About Borealis and Borouge
Borealis (borealisgroup.com) is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the fields of polyolefins, base chemicals and fertilizers. With its head office in Vienna, Austria, the company currently has around 6,600 employees and operates in over 120 countries. Borealis generated EUR 7.5 billion in sales revenue and a net profit of EUR 1,095 million in 2017. Mubadala, through its holding company, owns 64% of the company, with the remaining 36% belonging to Austria-based OMV, an integrated, international oil and gas company. Borealis provides services and products to customers around the world in collaboration with Borouge, a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
Borealis and Borouge aim to proactively benefit society by taking on real societal challenges and offering real solutions. Both companies are committed to the principles of Responsible Care®, an initiative to improve safety performance within the chemical industry, and work to solve the world’s water and sanitation challenges through product innovation and their Water for the World programme.
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virginia.mesicek[.]borealisgroup.com 
