The Dow Chemical Company’s line of DOW POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle are photovoltaic solar panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials, the company reports. The solar shingle systems are expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and projected to be more widely available in 2011.

Technology from Dow Solar Solutions (DSS) integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design, which represents a multi-functional solar energy generating roofing product. The product design reportedly reduces installation costs because the conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors. According to the company, no specialized skills or knowledge of solar array installations are required.
www.dow.com.