MIDLAND, Mich. – Dow Chemical Co. says it aims to start selling power-generating roof shingles by 2011. The chemical giant has been at work for the past year on a $50 million (U.S.) project called Dow Solar Solutions to develop a product to sell thermoplastic solar roof shingles throughout North America. Dow Chemical is collaborating with home builders and with Global Solar Energy Inc., an Arizona-based maker of flexible materials. The researchers have conducted numerous tests in preparing the shingles for market, said Robert Cleereman, senior director of solar development for Dow Chemical. ‘We’ve thrown everything you can imagine at them from (simulated) hail to fire to see how they react,’ he said. ‘One day, a person would no more think about buying a house without solar shingles than they would buy a house without plumbing. ‘That is our hope, at least.’ At the centre of the project is a $2.5 million injecting and moulding machine nicknamed ‘The Beast’ that produces the solar cell-imbedded shingles. ‘I can see utility companies paying for the roofing for customers. It would save them money on building power plants because the solar shingles can act like […]