Dow Chemical has named its main site in Midland, Michigan, as the preferred site for the first full-scale production facility for its Powerhouse Solar Shingle. This is subject to finalising local, state and federal funding.  It could ultimately bring 1,200 jobs to the region.

According to Dow, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)  is considering up to $140 million in economic incentives for the plant. This comes on top of $100 million Dow has already invested in solar systems since winning a $20 million Solar America Initiative Pathways Program grant from the US Department of Energy.

The Powerhouse Solar Shingle integrates cheap, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design to generate solar energy and can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials by roofing contractors, with no special training needed. A new research collaboration between Dow and the California Institute of Technology will also advance the development of photovoltaics.

Unveiled in October 2009, the Powerhouse Solar Shingle was named to Time magazine’s 50 ‘best inventions of 2009’. It is currently being made at a small-scale market development plant at Midland. Dow expects it to be available in small amounts by mid-2010 and more widely in 2011 as production is scaled up.