Akzo Nobel and Shell to jointly develop low cost solar panels

Akzo Nobel and Shell to jointly develop low cost solar panels Arnhem, the Netherlands, October 16, 2001 - Akzo Nobel and Shell Renewables have signed a joint development agreement to pilot a low-cost process of mass-producing flexible solar cell panels. If the pilot project proves successful, it could help to overcome one of the main hurdles to widespread application of solar photovoltaics: its high cost. Currently solar panels have to be manufactured from expensive materials - such as pure silicon, glass and metals - using labour-intensive processes. The new process to be tested by Shell and Akzo Nobel in Arnhem, the Netherlands, uses mass-production methods to apply a special 'solar cell coating' (20 times thinner than a human hair) virtually continuously to rolls of flexible foil substrates. "We believe that solar power is going to be one of the fastest-growing primary sources of energy," said Philippe de Renzy Martin, Shell Solar's Chief Operating Officer. "The market for solar power is forecast to grow at 16-25% per year. Faster and cheaper production methods, coupled with flexible solar panels, could help to stimulate broader market introduction by allowing cost effective integration into existing solar products, roofing and wall materials, as well as opening up new applications." In order to speed up this development, Akzo Nobel and Shell are also participating in a parallel programme with the Technical Universities of Delft and Eindhoven, the Utrecht University, TNO (The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) and ECN (Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands), in the Netherlands. The Dutch Government Energy Ecology and Technology programme, NOVEM (the Dutch agency for energy and the environment) and the European Union are supporting this programme. - - - Note for the editor Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the world with healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Consolidated sales for 2000 totaled EUR 14 billion (USD 13 billion, GBP 8.5 billion). The Company currently employs 67,500 people in more than 75 countries. Financial results for the third quarter of 2001 will be published on October 24, 2001. Shell Renewables was set up by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group in 1997 to develop the commercial opportunities of renewable energy such as wind and solar photovoltaics. In April 2001 the business entered into a joint venture with Siemens Solar, one of the leading solar energy companies in the world. Internet: http://www.akzonobel.com http://www.shell.com For more information please contact: Akzo Nobel N.V., Dr. G.J. Jongerden, Project Manager Solar Cells, tel. +31 26 366 2265 Shell, Mr. Andre Romeyn, Shell Media Relations, Shell Centre London +44 207 93 43045 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/16/20011016BIT00160/bit0002.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/16/20011016BIT00160/bit0002.pdf