The solar energy solutions centre, which is part of Dow Corning’s 32,130 ft² manufacturing facility, features laboratories and testing facilities.

“Dow Corning is excited to establish a presence on the West Coast, home to many of our solar customers and some of the largest solar energy providers in North America,” says Gaetan Borgers, Global Industry Director, Dow Corning Solar Business. “We see the North American market as poised for growth in the very near future and we want to provide local support to our customers in this market.”

The Newark solar energy solutions centre includes materials development and characterisation laboratories, which will allow customers to evaluate environmental aging and performance capabilities of solar energy solutions on-site.

In addition to serving West Coast customers, the centre will also serve customers around the world by supplementing the capabilities of Dow Corning’s Solar Solutions Application Center in Freeland, Michigan, and the centre in JinCheon, Korea, which is scheduled to open early next year, Dow Corning says.