Enerize Corporation used a transparent polymer material that could replace the standard glass used for solar cells covering, raising their performance level. The new material is stable under ionizing radiation exposure and UV, and highly transparent in the same time.
The conventional glass is brittle, heavy and reflective, so the cell doesn’t receive the entire energy from the light, as part of it is reflected of both the interior and exterior the glass. The regular glass also tends to block the ultraviolet light. The glass covered solar cells use a several layers structure more complicated and expensive than the new polymer glass.
The new material can be applied straight to the PV module at slow temperatures and can be formed as a crinkle coat. The last method raises the efficiency of the photons-collecting process by concentrating the light.
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June 1st, 2008 at 4:49 am
problem is anything but real glass will cloud up in 10 or 20 years and render the solar cells useless. current solar cells have a warrneted life of 10 or 20 but usually keep going forever. there are manty solar cells with glass that have been working since the 60’s
so in other words suddenly solar cells will no longer grant you true independence. you will have to replace them.
glass lasts forever . stick to it.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Very good article. Thanks for the good information!.