DuPont Kabushiki Kaisha and Fujipream Corporation have reportedly successfully developed a new thin crystalline silicon (c-Si) glass-glass photovoltaic module with 25% lighter weight (excluding the fr…
DuPont Kabushiki Kaisha and Fujipream Corporation have reportedly successfully developed a new thin crystalline silicon (c-Si) glass-glass photovoltaic module with 25% lighter weight (excluding the frame) compared with traditional c-Si modules using standard solar grade front glass. The new Fujipream module – which is the world“s thinnest commercially available glass-glass c-Si photovoltaic module – incorporates innovative material technology from DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions and NSG Group to provide the strength, rigidity, resistance to impact and weatherability meeting international module standards. Two sheets of DuPont PV5300 Series ionomer-based encapsulant surround and protect the module“s sensitive silicon cells and circuitry, which is sandwiched between two 1.1-mm sheets of thin glass. The resulting laminate strength enables the thinner module to pass required load and hail tests, while the thin glass replaces standard solar grade front glass and backsheet, resulting in a new lighter-weight glass-glass laminate structure. The extra strength of the vacuum-laminated photovoltaic module enables Fujipream to meet required module impact resistance and structural loading requirements with 31% less glass than traditional designs.