Photovoltaics · Circular economy · Cleantech entrepreneurship
Profile
Physicist turned business leader with three decades at DuPont, bringing new materials
technologies to market across the electronics and solar industries. For more than a decade
he led DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions’ marketing and business development across Europe,
the Middle East and Africa, with a focus on long-term reliability of solar modules
in demanding climates. He is now co-founder and CTO of DOTSun, a French cleantech start-up
that repairs, revamps and extends the lifespan of photovoltaic modules on site, and leads
Bee Solar’s projects for low-carbon European solar manufacturing and power generation.
Experience
DOTSun – Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer
2022 – present
Var, France
Cleantech start-up (société à mission) for the on-site repair, revamping and life extension of photovoltaic modules
Developed DOTSun Extended Life, an on-site backsheet repair process using a PFAS-free adhesive film
co-developed with Addev Materials, and a string-level monitoring system with Sicame Group
Bee Solar Holding – Project Lead
present
Milan, Italy
GW-scale, vertically integrated European PV manufacturing (ingots, wafers, cells, modules) with a minimal carbon footprint
Large-scale PV power plants with storage, supplying industrial customers through power purchase agreements
Andromède Investment & Consulting SAS
present
Échenevex, France
DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions – Regional Marketing Leader, EMEA
2008 – 2021
Geneva, Switzerland
Led business development and marketing across Europe, the Middle East and Africa for
DuPont’s PV materials, including Tedlar® backsheet films and Solamet® metallization pastes
Promoted DuPont’s global field-reliability programme (about 2 GW of installed modules surveyed since 2011),
which links early panel degradation to module design and materials
DuPont – New Technology & Market Development, Electronics
1991 – 2008
New-technology and market-development work for printed circuit boards, integrated-circuit packaging
and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) flat-panel displays
Independent project – Rooftop PV development
Mid-2000s
Co-developed three rooftop photovoltaic systems in south-west France, all still in operation
Education
University of Cambridge – PhD in Physics
1991
Graduate work in advanced physics, semiconductor technologies and photovoltaics
Awards and Grants
Prix Initiatives Circulaires – DOTSun
2024
Laureate, “Espoirs” category – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur circular economy award (PRECI)
Fonds vert – Territoires d’industrie – DOTSun
2025
Grant from ADEME and the regional prefecture
Partnerships and Launches
DuPont Tedlar® PV Rescue Tape
Jul. 2021
Launch of a field repair solution for modules with damaged backsheets – pv magazine
DuPont × Envision
Mar. 2018
Predictive analytics for module degradation and backsheet failures on the EnOS platform – PV Tech
DuPont × Desert Technologies
Sep. 2017
Strategic partnership for durable solar systems in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia) – PV Tech
Talks and Webinars
KAUST Solar Future Symposium, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
2019
Invited speaker
Large Scale Solar Digital Series
Speaker
African Utility Week, Cape Town, South Africa
Risk management for rooftop solar energy systems
DuPont × Enerpoint, Italy
Risk management for rooftop solar installations
Press
Who’s Who: Stephan Padlewski
Mar. 2020
Interview – Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA)
Expertise
PV module repair and life extension, circular economy, PV module reliability and degradation, backsheet and metallization materials, business development, strategic partnerships, EMEA markets, electronic materials (PCB, IC packaging, OLED)