Akzo Nobel and Shell to jointly develop low cost solar panels

Source: press release 2001.10.16

Akzo Nobel and Shell Renewables have signed a joint development
agreement to pilot a low-cost process of mass-producing flexible solar cell
panels. If the pilot project proves successful, it could help to overcome one
of the main hurdles to widespread application of solar photovoltaics (PV):
its cost.

Currently solar panels have to be manufactured from expensive materials,
such as pure silicon, glass and metals, and using labour-intensive
processes. The new process to be tested by Shell and Akzo Nobel in
Arnhem, Netherlands, takes mass-production methods to apply a special
'solar cell coating', 20 times thinner than a human hair, to rolls of flexible foil
substrates on a virtually continuous basis.

"We believe that solar power is going to be one of the fastest growing
primary sources of energy," said Philippe de Renzy Martin, Shell Solar's
Chief Operating Officer. "The market for solar power is forecast to grow at
16-25% per year. Faster and cheaper production methods, coupled with
flexible solar panels could help to stimulate broader market introduction by
allowing cost effective integration into existing solar products, roofing and
wall materials as well as opening up new applications."

In order to speed up this development, Akzo Nobel and Shell are also
participating in a parallel programme with the Technical Universities of Delft
and Eindhoven, the Utrecht University, TNO (The Netherlands Organisation
for Applied Scientific Research) and ECN (Energy Research Centre of the
Netherlands), in the Netherlands. The Dutch Government Energy Ecology
and Technology programme, NOVEM (the Dutch agency for energy and the
environment) and the European Union are supporting this programme.

Notes

Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the
world with healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Consolidated
sales for 2000 totalled EUR 14 billion (US$13 billion, UK£8.5 billion). The
Company currently employs 67,500 people in more than 75 countries.
Financial results for the third quarter of 2001 will be published on October
24, 2001.

Shell Renewables was set up by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group in 1997 to
develop the commercial opportunities of renewable energy such as wind
and solar PV. In April 2001 entered into a joint venture with Siemens Solar,
one of the leading solar energy companies in the world.

Internet: www.akzonobel.com