Sharp Electronics Corporation’s Solar Energy Solutions Group has introduced its frameless, glass-on-glass thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) module offering greater savings, reliability and longevity.
Sharp Electronics Corporation’s Solar Energy Solutions Group has introduced its frameless, glass-on-glass thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) module, which, says the company, offers greater savings, reliability and longevity without the frame and associated complexity, time and expense that traditional framed modules demand on the installation, as well as appealing aesthetics.
Sharp’s thin film cell, which is ARRA and Buy American compliant, pairs amorphous silicon with a layer of its proprietary microcrystalline silicon to capture more of the solar spectrum and convert more sunlight into electricity. Produced with less than 1% of the silicon used in crystalline solar cells, Sharp’s thin film products offer, it says, a lower cost per kilowatt-hour for large-scale applications. Additionally, with a low temperature coefficient for output power, thin film modules generate greater specific power than crystalline silicon modules in warmer climates. This translates into as much as 10% more kilowatt-hours per kilowatt.
By removing the frame, Sharp’s new thin film module eliminates time-consuming grounding activities; streamlining installation process and lowering installation costs. The same frameless feature also results in less dust accumulation, thus requiring less frequent cleaning and maintenance, enabling the modules to be installed in both landscape or portrait position.
Sharp has also launched a new Fixed-Tilt Ground Mount Structure, designed especially for its thin film module, which reduces installation fees by decreasing materials cost and streamlining labour. The system has industry-leading adjustability – 25mm vertical, 25mm lateral – and can be used in wind zones up to 95 miles per hour.
The frameless glass-on-glass thin film product is backed by the Sharp 25-year limited warranty on power production.