DENVER and ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — Johns Manville (JM), a leading manufacturer of building products, and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ECD), a manufacturer of thin-film amorphous silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) laminates, announced that they have reached a multi-year agreement for ECD to supply its UNI-SOLAR laminates to Johns Manville to support its entry into the field of solar roof systems. JM has created and will market this capability through a new business entity, the JM E3 Co., more informally known as E3 Co.
According to Fred Stephan, vice president and general manager of the Roofing Systems business for Johns Manville, “This further strengthens our leadership in sustainable roofing. We are excited to partner with ECD to incorporate their lightweight, flexible, and durable UNI-SOLAR laminates into our single-ply, built-up, and modified bitumen roofing membrane systems. Supported by JM’s 150 years of commercial roofing experience and ECD’s expertise in building-integrated photovoltaics, this agreement is our first step in offering a range of new solar-energy producing roofing products to our customer base.”
Mark Morelli, ECD’s president and CEO, said, “Johns Manville is well known for being a leading provider of high-quality commercial roofing products. We look forward to working with them to advance the adoption of clean, renewable power in the form of rooftop solar technology.”
According to ECD, at less than one pound per square foot, UNI-SOLAR laminates are lightweight, non-intrusive, and require no rooftop penetrations or mounting systems, eliminating the negative impact on roof life and performance that is associated with penetrating PV systems. Additionally, these thin-film PV laminates are said to provide a low installed cost and low cost-per-kilowatt-hour of energy produced when compared to traditional rigid glass panel PV alternatives.
For more information about Johns Manville, visit www.jm.com. For more information about Energy Conversion Devices, visit www.ovonic.com.
Publication date: 08/10/2009
