What is solar glass
What makes solar glass different from traditional panels?
BIPV – building-integrated photovoltaics – are solar panels designed to replace conventional building materials in parts such as the roof,skylights,facades and windows.
The key difference between this technology and traditional solar PV is that panels are built into the building rather than being tacked-on. This means there's more of a relationship between aesthetics and functionality;it is all about getting a balance so that one is not at the expense of another.
This week, we visited Polysolar,a Cambridge-based company founded in 2007.They are pioneers of thin-film solar panels and they gave us an introduction to the technology.
There are currently two types of BIPV available,and one more in development.Before we discuss the -se,let's start at the beginning- with crystalline silicone technology.These are the blue/black metallic solar PV panels you're probably familiar with.To work at a good efficiency,they are also thick and op-aque in colour,so are not ideal for integrating into buildings.This is why companies such as Polysolar are developing alternatives.
What solar glass products are currently available?
Thin-film modules.These have been around for a few years.They can be designed into the fabric of a building and can perform in conditions/locations where crystalline silicone panels cannot.However,the amorphous silicone they are made from is naturally orange in colour,and only up to 20% transparent.
Colourless PV glass. This is black, with varying levels of opacity.It can be up to 50% transparent much more than traditional PV.They can be used for instance in balconies,skylights or in facades (alternated with standard windows).Thin film panels work in non-optimal conditions,in lower light and higher tem -peratures.This means a longer day of solar gain compared to"traditional"panels.If double glazed,they have a U-value of less than one,meaning the energy efficiency of the building is not compromised. However, they are expensive to produce and transparency is limited.They cost approximately twice that of commercial quality glazing.
