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Good chemistry

Updated: 2008-11-10 08:08
By LIANG QIWEN (China Daily)

SHENZHEN: DuPont, an American chemical giant, has invested $200 million to set up a research and development center and a manufacturing plant in Hong Kong and Shenzhen respectively to develop environmentally friendly photovoltaic (PV) solar energy technology.

DuPont announced in May that it would set up facilities in the two cities to speed up the development of the PV solar industry.

"The R&D center in Hong Kong Science and Technology Park will start operation and produce sample products later this year," Douglas Muzyka, corporate vice president and president for Greater China of DuPont, tells China Business Weekly.

The Shenzhen plant will start production in 2010, he says.

Good chemistry

DuPont is a global leading materials supplier to the PV industry, with more than 25 years of experience in PV materials development, manufacturing expertise and global market work.

The demand for renewable energy such as solar power has never been higher, and will continue to grow rapidly, Muzyka says, though costs at the moment remain high.

"When the manufacturing facility starts operating in 2010, we expect that our new offerings can help drive down the costs of installed photovoltaic systems," Muzyka says. "With that, we not only can help improve the environmental performance of the Pearl River Delta region, but more importantly, we will make solar energy more readily available to the general public."

As a multinational chemical group, DuPont tries to offer innovative products that address some of society's issues and that leave as small environmental footprints as possible, Muzyka says.

And he believes the PV solar energy technology fits the bill.

"Corporate social responsibility is a means to help archive 'sustainable growth' which we define as creating value for our shareholders and society while reducing our environmental footprint throughout the value chain in which we operate," Muzyka says.

He believes that while there are challenges raised such as climate change, surging energy prices, and stresses on food supply, there are also opportunities that a company like DuPont can address.

"Although oil prices have dropped from their historical highs in recent weeks, we cannot be tempted to think that they are going to remain in a descending trend," Muzyka says. "In fact, it is almost certain that in the long term the upward trend will continue no matter what happens."

In the 20th century, DuPont used chemistry to transform natural processes and materials into manmade materials based largely on petroleum feedstock. In the 21st century, the company is using nature's own processes to produce materials that are based on renewable feedstock that can be produced and used in a sustainable manner, says Muzyka.

A joint venture with Tate & Lyle of England is developing a bio-based process for creating a major ingredient for Sorona polymer, a polymer that imparts distinctive characteristics to fibers and fabrics. The new process uses 40 percent less energy and will save the equivalent of 38 million liters of gasoline annually -enough to power 22,000 cars a year.

DuPont's production has increased by 35 percent since 1999, while energy use is down by 7 percent saving the company $3 billion in energy costs.

In the same period, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by more than 70 percent.

"We pledged, by 2015 we will further reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15 percent and air carcinogen emissions by at least 50 percent," Muzyka says.

(China Daily 11/10/2008 page4)

 
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