The facility will include material development and characterisation laboratories, an industrial-scale pilot line for photovoltaic (PV) module assembly, and environmental aging and testing capabilities.

Eric Peeters, Global Executive Director at Dow Corning Solar Business, says: “With almost 60% of solar module producers based in Asia, this centre will play an important role in the global solar industry growth as well as manufacturing growth in Asia.”

The Korean facility will be the second Dow Corning Solar Solutions Application Center; the first opened in May 2008 in Freeland, Michigan, USA.

The laboratory of the Solar Solutions Application Center Korea is scheduled to open in late 2009 and pilot production equipment could come online by early 2010.