Guide To Flexible Solar Panels

The high transparency photovoltaic glass designed by engineers consists of thin photovoltaic cells evenly distributed over a glass support. It has the appearance of a slightly smoked glass. This technology is available in several transparencies ranging from 20 to 70 percent. Depending on the latter, the nominal power will vary from 18 Wc / m² to 50 Wc / m².

Photovoltaic glazing for flexible solar panels has been developed in many countries, including the United States and Japan. A range of Wysips glazing (What you see is photovoltaic surface) has been patented for specific uses. This technology uses a type of CIGS thin-film and high-performance photovoltaic cell.

The aim is to create photovoltaic facades for buildings, which can be darkened in case of high brightness, to regulate the temperature inside the building; and conversely thin in case of low light. According to the manufacturer, photovoltaic glass can supply LED lighting or specific sensors associated with photovoltaic glazing.

The cells are typically removed from the water and heated to a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius. They can be glued anywhere using a double-sided adhesive (or other glue) due to flexibility. The attaching component is removed once the power generating unit is in place. Interestingly, the silicon dioxide wafers can be cleaned and reused for the manufacture of new cells.

In the end, the thin-film photovoltaic cells provide a yield of 7.5 percent on their rigid substrate and the same after having been glued on a flexible support. According to the researchers, this transfer technique has the capacity to work with glass substrates and other types of cells. For instance, units made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) that provide better performance.

This device is a thin and flexible film on which photovoltaic cells are printed. A solar cell film of 10 square centimeters is enough to generate up to 50 watts. Some of the advantages of these units include flexibility and light film, thus enabling many possible applications. They are easy to produce and transport. Flexible solar panels require few raw materials (one gram of organic photovoltaic cells for one square meter of film) and non-toxic materials (do not contain silicon).

Several projects are emerging to use roads as gigantic solar panels. For example, a solar road project is being developed in the United States. The resistance of solar cells to the weight of the vehicles is ensured by a multilayer material based on polymers and resins. The developers propose selling the power based on a variable pricing model (per watt-peak).

This method allows the frequent passage of all types of vehicles and the electrification of isolated rural areas.