In total, chemistry from Dow is now helping six Spanish solar power plants generate 300 megawatts of renewable and sustainable electricity. Taking advantage of a sunny climate and a strong government commitment, Spain is pioneering Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Dow is strongly committed to the industry by providing high-quality materials, logistic excellence and top of the class technical support for heat transfer fluids.
"Dow is very proud to be the partner of the leading Spanish companies that are developing, building and operating these thermal solar plants that have a clear positive impact on today's energy challenges," said Renaud Jourdan, global marketing manager for Dow Heat Transfer Fluids.
How Concentrated Solar Power Works
CSP uses parabolic mirrors to reflect and magnify heat from the sun onto a pipe that contains DOWTHERM(TM) A heat transfer fluids to collect the heat energy and transport it to a power generating station. The heat transferred from the collectors to the station where the heat turns water to steam. The steam is used to drive turbines that make electricity.
Solar power and technology like CSP serves to help diversify the energy supply, produce power at peak demand, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, improve air quality and offset greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar Innovations
Dow's commitment to solar innovation extends beyond heat transfer fluids:
- In October, Dow unveiled the DOW(TM) POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle, revolutionary photovoltaic solar panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. The solar shingle systems are expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and projected to be more widely available in 2011, putting the power of solar electricity generation directly and conveniently in the hands of homeowners.
- Dow Adhesives and Functional Polymers is a leading global supplier of adhesives for photovoltaics, with exceptional performance in new backsheet substrates, as well as game-changing innovations in materials such as liquid encapsulants.
- Dow Electronic Materials recently introduced its new line of ENLIGHT(TM) photovoltaic products, which increase solar cell efficiency and yield.
- Dow Specialty Packaging & Films offers innovative polyolefin-based films used in the protective encapsulant layer and the structural backsheet of photovoltaic modules. The use of these films can improve productivity when the module is produced, and help increase its service life and reliability.
- Dow Corning, a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated, is also participating in the solar photovoltaic sector, applying its expertise in silicon-based materials to improve the cost efficiency, durability and performance of solar modules and photovoltaic devices. Dow Corning recently began construction on a facility that will manufacture monosilane gas, a key material used to manufacture thin-film solar cells and liquid crystal displays. Via its Hemlock Semiconductor joint venture, Dow Corning is also a leading provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, and solar cells and modules.
SOURCE The Dow Chemical Company
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