Centrosolar Glas has developed a particularly thin solar glass for photovoltaic modules. The ‘CENTROSOL’ thin glass is only 2.3mm or 2.6mm thick, enabling a reduction in the minimum thickness by almost 30 % at the same mechanical resistance thanks to process optimization. The thin glass currently offered exclusively by Centrosolar Glas reduces the total weight of modules, which is claimed to simplify the assembly and transportation and mounting costs.
Problem
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Reducing module weight and providing enhanced technologies that make conventional PV module glass ‘smart,’ supports both enhanced yield and lower BOS costs during installation.
Solution
The CENTROSOL thin glass also offers the advantage of higher light transmission. It moreover extends the operating life of the PV modules because glass is more resistant to environmental effects than a plastic back sheet. The thermal conductivity of glass is higher than a backing film, reducing the cell operating temperature of a glass-glass module and improving efficiency especially in hot climatic conditions. Moreover it offers aesthetic advantages: the thin glass sandwich gives the PV module a genuine high-tech character. What is more, the customer can match the colour of the glass backing to the roof. The company claims that a 6% increase in the annual energy yield is attainable from photovoltaic modules, which is made possible by a patented anti-reflective coating that minimizes reflection by the surface of the glass, thus maximizing energy transmission to the solar cell or absorber.
Applications
The innovative solar glass with a thickness of only 2.3mm and 2.6mm is particularly suitable for glass-glass modules. Up to now, single pane safety glass could only be produced with a minimum thickness of 3mm.
Platform
The energy yield can be further increased by means of the CENTROSOL HiT Nano Power anti-reflective coating. This coating further improves the transmission properties and therefore the annual energy yield of a photovoltaic system by up to 6 %. Furthermore, the low-iron solar glass with anti-reflective coating exhibits hydrophilic surface properties, creating a degree of self-cleaning.
Availability
August 2012 onwards.
