“Technology agnostic…”: Based at Dow's European headquarters in Seneffe, Belgium, vice president Eric Peeters is on a mission to drive down the cost of solar power.

UUntil now, solar energy's two challenges have been cost and acceptance. Dow is working to change all that. The Midland, Michigan, U.S.-based company has been developing BIPV building materials that enable solar to be incorporated directly into the design of commercial and residential building materials - such as roofing systems, exterior sidings, and fascias. Despite a headquarters in the U.S., vice president Eric Peeters believes the company has a truly global perpective on the solar marketplace. “We are squarely focused on the single biggest challenge to the widespread adoption of solar energy: cost”, Peeters begins. “We believe that Si-based solutions can reduce the cost of ownership of solar modules and therefore help the solar industry quickly penetrate the energy market - with the goal of becoming economically competitive with conventional energy sources. Everything we develop and supply to the PV industry addresses at least one of the following market drivers: total cost/MWp reduction; improved durability; improved performance; or global availability of large supply capabilities”.