Photo Factory

By Matthew Power. Thanks to energy uncertainties and a growing international market, photovoltaic solar cells have finally gone mainstream. In mid-June, Bekaert ECD opened a new mass production plant in Detroit. It has promised to produce three miles of solar panels per day. According to ECD spokesperson, Michael Coates, “the market is growing, and the technology to develop this roll product has made this possible. This is a thin amorphous film that can be applied to many, many types of products, including a laminate directly on to a metal roof panel. This one plant will increase U.S. total manufacture of PV by 20 percent. Obviously, that will bring the price down.”