As the PV market grows, it is inevitable that the industry will attract manufacturers who can bring valuable knowledge from other sectors. PES speaks to Dr. Thomas Kietzke of Merck Performance Materials to find out how they are helping to develop and improve solar power.
PES: Welcome back to PES. For the benefit of new readers, would you like to introduce the company and explain a little about how you serve the PV industry?
Thomas Kietzke: Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. In 2014 we generated sales of € 11.3 billion and invest heavily back into Research & Development. Within Performance Materials our innovative formulations already enable large area LCD TVs and smartphones. One new area for Merck, where we see high growth is in the sector of Photovoltaics. Merck offers process solutions for the silicon industry, for example our award winning isishape materials and also active materials for 3rd generation PV such as OPV and DSSC.
PES: And which geographic regions are performing particularly well for you?
TK: We are truly global, with all regions being important. For silicon PV we have a lot of activity mainly in Asia, especially in China and Taiwan.
PES: We understand that you’ve been developing your screen-printable doping paste solution. What can you tell us about your efforts?
