Tuesday 6 April 2010

Dyesol and Pilkington Sign Joint Venture MOU

On 8th March 2010, Dyesol (ASX:DYE) announced a collaboration with Pilkington North America (PNA) to develop opportunities in the building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market place utilising Pilkington’s TEC series of transparent conductive oxide (TCO*) coated float glass and Dyesol’s dye solar cell (DSC) materials and technology. PNA is part of the NSG Group (NSG), one of the world’s largest manufacturers of glass and glazing products for the building, automotive and specialty glass markets.

This announcement is to inform ASX and Dyesol’s shareholders that the two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a Joint Venture (JV) which will be located in the USA. In addition to optimising the TCO glass produced by Pilkington and the DSC materials and technology controlled by Dyesol, the joint venture will develop and deliver a total platform solution to downstream suppliers to the building and construction markets seeking to develop glass-based BIPV products. The opportunities for the platform solution include BIPV, solar panels, automotive glazing, photovoltaic powered displays, and security products. The proposed JV is planned to collaborate directly and indirectly with and assist organisations worldwide to bring products to market. The combination of Pilkington’s leading expertise in TCO glass, including their vast experience in glass products, plus Dyesol’s recognised leadership in DSC technology is designed to ensure that the best technology platform for long-life high performing DSC glass products will be available.

Marc Thomas, CEO Dyesol, Inc. comments: “Pilkington has the reputation for quality and engineering excellence in the architectural and flat glass market. Pilkington TCO coated glass has been used globally for energy efficiency and active glazing for over 20 years and Pilkington is the market leader. PNA has maintained its leadership position by producing the best performing and highest quality TCO glass (sold under the TEC product line). Pilkington TEC product is the most specified TCO glass worldwide and has been the glass of choice for Dyesol’s DSC development programme since its inception in 1994.”

By far the biggest potential market for DSC glass is in BIPV. Of the nearly 50 million tonnes of flat glass produced annually, about 90% is used in buildings. When this is coupled with the fact that over 50% of all electricity worldwide is utilised in buildings, the demand for energy efficient and energy producing glazing and interior glass-based products in buildings becomes easy to identify. While all photovoltaic technologies can be applied to roofs in good solar environments, only DSC can produce power all day every day in any sunlight condition. The world is becoming increasingly urbanised and world’s cities comprise a much larger proportion of walls and facades than roofs. This is exemplified by the fact that the average GDP growth since 1990 is 2.7% p.a. while the glass usage growth is 4.2% p.a. cumulative. Flat glass is the key growth industry in the expansion of the built environment.

Richard Caldwell, Executive Chairman Dyesol Limited notes “Dyesol is committed to establishing best-in-class partnerships with the leaders in market segments which leverage the strengths of Dyesol’s DSC products and technology. The addition of Pilkington also aligns with the existing Corus programme, and strategically positions Dyesol and its partners to make significant progress in advancing the glass and metal based BIPV markets, respectively. In summary, Dyesol has now established strategic relationships with global leaders to completely cover a building with energy harvesting technologies which utilise Dyesol materials.”

Richard Altman, President of Building Products North America stated, “Pilkington has been involved in various ongoing solar initiatives since the late 1980’s. The Dyesol initiative affords Pilkington another solar platform to further expand our portfolio of strategic initiatives in this arena. Dyesol’s technology is an attractive BIPV opportunity leveraging the world leading technologies of both companies.”

*TCO glass is a float glass with a transparent tin oxide coating specifically designed for use with photovoltaic cells to provide heightened transmittance and improved conductivity properties.


For further information contact Viv Hardy at Callidus PR on +61 (0)2 9283 4113 or on +61 (0)411 208 951.
In Europe contact Eva Reuter, Investor Relations, Dyesol Europe on +49 177 6058804

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Dyesol debuts in Bloomberg’s top five New Energy Pioneers

Dyesol Limited (ASX: DYE) is one of only five companies in the world and the only Australian company to make the Bloomberg New Energy Finance New Energy Pioneers.

New for the 2010 Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit, the Pioneers Programme recognises five companies that Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysts consider to be highly promising and progressive in the field of new energy technology and innovation.

The companies – AlertMe, Magnomatics, Novacem, Topell Energy and Dyesol – represent a range of sectors, from energy storage conversion to energy efficiency and transportation. The companies were recognized at the third annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit in London yesterday.

“Bloomberg New Energy Finance chose these companies because we feel they are potential ‘game changers’ in new energy technology and innovation,” said Michael Liebreich, chief executive of Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

“The work they are doing is progressive and significant to the future of the energy sector, and they could play a significant role in the world’s transition to a lower carbon, more secure, smart, decentralised energy system.”

According to Dyesol’s executive chairman Mr Richard Caldwell, “To be included in the Bloomberg New Energy Finance New Energy Pioneers is a magnificent achievement for Dyesol. We are indeed proud and honoured to be recognised, as the world leader in our field,” he said.

In a world class performance, Dyesol also announced last week that the company has partnered with one of the world’s largest glass makers Pilkington North America to develop and commercialise glass with power generating capabilities.

Initially the collaboration will address the non-view glass market (spandrel) which accounts for 40 per cent of the total glass market.

The global market for flat glass is estimated to be 6 billion square metres in 2010 and growing at 5 per cent a year.


For further information contact Viv Hardy at Callidus PR on +61 (0)2 9283 4113 or on +61 (0)411 208 951
In Europe contact Eva Reuter, Investor Relations, Dyesol Europe on +49 177 6058804


Note to editors
The Technology – DYE SOLAR CELLS
DSC technology can best be described as ‘artificial photosynthesis’ using a layer of nanoparticulate titania (a pigment used in white paints and tooth paste) coated with a dye and filled with an electrolyte deposited on glass, metal or polymer substrates. Light striking the dye excites electrons which are absorbed by the titania to become an electric current many times stronger than that found in natural photosynthesis in plants. Compared to conventional silicon based photovoltaic technology, Dyesol’s technology has lower cost and embodied energy in manufacture, it produces electricity more efficiently in normal light conditions and can be directly incorporated into buildings by replacing conventional glass panels or metal sheets rather than taking up roof or extra land area.

The Company – DYESOL Limited
Dyesol is located in Queanbeyan NSW (near Canberra) and in August 2005 was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX Code ‘DYE’). Dyesol manufactures and supplies a range of dye solar cell products comprising equipment, chemicals, materials, components and related services to researchers and manufacturers of DSC. Dyesol has subsidiaries in UK, Italy, Switzerland, USA, Korea and Singapore plus representatives and agents in Turkey, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan. The Company is playing a key role in taking this third generation solar technology from development into commercial production.