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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Angle of Incidence Characterization of Six Laminated Solar Cells for 2020 DTU Fotonik Inter-Laboratory Comparison Study

Photovoltaic energy prediction models include functions or modifiers to account for sun angle reflection losses. These functions may be known interchangeably as Angle of Incidence (AOI) or Incident Angle Modifier (IAM). While standards exist, there is no universally accepted single best practice for developing these functions. They can be generated through characterization of representative modules or single cells, in natural sunlight or indoors using simulated light sources. Repeatability of measurements and the viability of cross-laboratory comparisons are critical to confidence in validation of both methods. To investigate the differences between methods and labs, The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) initiated an international round-robin test comparison between several key test labs with AOI measurement capability. A total of six minimodules were provided in three different cell/interconnect/backsheet combinations. Sandia characterized these minimodules using methods developed over two decades specifically for the outdoor characterization of full-size photovoltaic modules. This report documents the characterization results, summarizes key observations and tabulates the processed data for comparison to results provided by other characterization labs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Ultrafast (1‐5 sec) Lamination of Perovskite Solar Cells With Self‐Encapsulation Using Rapid Joule Heating

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are traditionally fabricated using sequential layer‐by‐layer deposition, in which each layer of the device is processed on top of the preceding layer. This constrains the processing techniques and selection of transport layer materials that can be used in the solar cell. To overcome these challenges, two half‐cells can be processed independently and then diffusion‐bonded through a lamination process. However, current lamination processes for perovskite solar cells suffer from relatively long process times, which can limit throughput when moving toward high‐volume manufacturing. In this study, a custom platform was designed for rapid‐joule heating of perovskite materials and devices. This enabled more than a 99% reduction in lamination time from 26 min to 1 s. Perovskite samples that were laminated in 1 s exhibited comparable values of percent bonded area, interfacial toughness, grain domain size, and X‐ray diffraction spectra to those laminated in greater than 10 min. As a proof‐of‐concept, 18.3% efficient devices were successfully laminated in 5 s. A transient heat transfer model was developed to describe the relationship between the perovskite temperature and the electrical power supplied to the heaters, establishing a baseline for predicting processing conditions in large‐scale manufacturing systems. Ultra‐fast lamination provides a pathway toward scalable roll‐to‐roll or sheet‐to‐sheet manufacturing of PSCs.

heat transfer↗
DOE OSTI2024

Reducing Thermal Degradation of Perovskite Solar Cells during Vacuum Lamination by Internal Diffusion Barriers

Current photovoltaic (PV) panels typically contain interconnected solar cells that are vacuum laminated with a polymer encapsulant between two pieces of glass or glass with a polymer backsheet. This packaging approach is ubiquitous in conventional photovoltaic technologies such as silicon and thinfilm solar modules, contributing to thermal management, mechanical reinforcement, and environmental protection to enable the long lifetimes necessary to become financially acceptable. Commercial vacuum lamination processes typically occur at 150 °C to ensure cross-linking and/or glass bonding of the encapsulant to the glass and PV cells. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising next-generation PV technology that is known to degrade under thermal stresses, especially at temperatures above 100 °C. In this study, we determine degradation modes during lamination and engineer internal diffusion barriers within the PSC to withstand the harsh thermal conditions of vacuum lamination. PSCs with self-assembled monolayers at the ITO interface and SnO X layers deposited by atomic layer deposition at the electron extraction side of the device endured vacuum lamination at conditions typical of commercial PV processes (150 °C) without degradation. This work demonstrates that perovskite PV can be integrated into the existing module lamination process, enabling future single- and multijunction modules utilizing perovskite absorbers.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enhancement of Optical Efficiency of CSP Mirrors for Reducing O&M Cost via Near-Continuous Operation of Self-Cleaning Electrodynamic Screens (EDS). Final Report

Over the past decade, techno-economical advancements in solar energy systems, particularly the improvement in the conversion efficiency of PV modules made with mono-crystalline silicon solar cells from 12% to 20%, as well as the cost reduction in manufacturing by a factor of about 10%, have made it possible to achieve a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in PV plants that is comparable to, or less than, the cost of deriving electricity from fossil fuels. Operating PV plants in mid-latitude sun-belt regions, where the solar irradiance level is highest, provides a high annual energy-yield (kWh/kWp) due to two factors: (1) the availability of predictable high solar irradiance throughout the year with the fewest interruptions in solar flux from clouds and rain, and (2) the increased conversion efficiency of crystalline solar cells, as recombination loss has decreased with increased intensity of the sunlight that illuminates the silicon solar cells. Semi-arid and desert regions, however, are plagued by high atmospheric dust concentrations and frequent sand storms. The deposition of a layer of dust on the optical surfaces of solar collectors such as PV modules and concentrating mirrors reduces the transmission efficiency of sunlight that actually reaches the solar cells or receivers, resulting in high energy-yield soiling loss. There are two major cost components to operating a solar plant: (1) installation costs, and (2) operation-and-maintenance (O&M) costs. There is no fuel cost; hence operating a solar plant in a semi-arid or desert region provides high returns on investment if soiling losses are mitigated via efficient cleaning methods and optimized cleaning frequency. If solar collectors are not cleaned, the accumulation of dust layers on solar collectors may cause the operation of such plants in arid regions to become economically unviable. Washing solar collectors with water and detergent, as is most commonly done now, is an efficient method for cleaning. The conventional approach in utility-scale solar plants is to use a large truck with a water tank and pump system for spraying deionized water on the surface of the solar collectors. Robotic cleaning with brushes, used for many solar plants, requires lesser water for cleaning. The water consumed using semi-automated cleaning of PV modules in utility-scale solar plants is approximately 2 liters/m 2 per cleaning cycle. The total optical surface area of the solar collectors in 1 TW-scale solar installation will be more than 3 × 109 m 2 ; hence an enormous amount of water be needed for cleaning. There simply is not enough fresh water in the sun-belt areas of the world for predicted cleaning needs. In solar power plants, the estimated cost of cleaning solar collectors includes expenses related to the equipment used, labor, cost of transportation of water, the energy required for cleaning, plus ancillary costs whereas the cost of water is not considered. The water used is obtained from sources located close to plant sites, unmindful of the environmental and societal impact as the power plants are oftentimes located in regions that face severe drought. This practice is very similar to the cost calculations in deriving the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) in conventional power plants based on burning fossil fuel such as coal and gas, while disregarding the cost of climate change and health effects. Unless a water-free or low-water cleaning method is established, the expansion of solar plants may lose public support in areas suffering long intervals of drought. The goal of this research project has been the development and application of the Electrodynamic Screen (EDS) as a means for a water-free, scalable cleaning process applicable to solar-power installations, including rooftop applications. We describe here the development of an EDS film-based cleaning process as an emerging method for use on PV modules, parabolic troughs, and heliostats. This report aims to show the feasibility of integrating or retrofitting EDS films onto the optical surfaces of solar collectors (both PV and CSP) while maintaining high transmission or reflection efficiency. The cleaning action provided by the EDS film is an active method to remove dust deposits by electrodynamic force. Current lab-scale prototype EDS films, retrofitted onto solar panels and mirrors, have shown to be capable of maintaining optical transmission or specular-reflection efficiencies higher than 90% of initial values under clean conditions. The optical surfaces of solar collectors laminated with EDS films can remove more than 90% of deposited dust when the EDS is activated for less than two minutes. As an electrodynamic dust removal process, the EDS film-based method is designed primarily for the removal of dust in solar installations located in semi-arid and desert areas, where the atmosphere is often dry and dusty and rainfall is infrequent. While EDS film application minimizes water consumption and facilitates cleaning as frequently as needed, it has limitations in removing contaminants such as soot, organic pollutants deposited as fine films on the surface, and bird droppings. The dust removal efficiency of the EDS is maximum at relative humidity RH is 40 to 50% and decreases at when RH > 65%. Many solar plant sites undergo diurnal and seasonal cycles of high ambient, early afternoon temperatures and an RH that reaches the dew point early in the morning. These variations in atmospheric conditions do not limit the operation of the EDS film. This report presents a brief review of the progress and the potential of EDS film technology for mitigating the impact of dust on solar collectors via water-free cleaning, as well as current technical challenges regarding efficiency and durability. Our experimental data on the performance of EDS films show that: (1) the dust-removal efficiency (DRE) can reach levels higher than 90%, (2) the specular reflectivity (SR) of EDS film-laminated second-surface mirrors reach levels in excess of 90%, (3) the specular reflectivity restoration (SRR) can exceed 90%, (4) the output-power restoration (OPR) of PV modules can exceed 95%, and (5) the optical transmission efficiency (TE) of the EDS films can be greater than 90%. Working with Sandia National Laboratories (NM), Corning Research and Development Corporation (NY), Eastman Kodak (NY), Tomark-Worthen Industries (NH), and EDS Chile SPA (Chile), we have produced EDS film-laminated PV modules and demonstrated their self-cleaning functions without requiring water. We have demonstrated that the operational range of EDS films will cover the expected ambient temperature of solar fields at RH cycling varying from 20 to 95% as long as the EDS films are activated in the RH range 20 to 50%. (Typical solar-field climates in deserts and semi-arid lands often reach near dew point in coastal areas.) Our experiments on the application of hydrophobic-fluorinated nanoparticle coatings on EDS film surfaces show that the EDS operational range can be extended to higher RH levels that approach the dew point. At Eastman Kodak, as one of our industrial partners, we were able to establish a process for manufacturing EDS films using flexographic printing of the electrodes onto transparent polymer films. This process utilizes an existing manufacturing line at Eastman Kodak that allows fabrication of medium-scale EDS films (26 cm × 30 cm). The manufacturing process has the capacity to produce EDS films at high production speeds. The medium-scale EDS films that have been printed at Kodak were evaluated in the lab at Boston University. The EDS films produced at Kodak were laminated at Tomark-Worthen using an industrial scale vacuum laminator to produce EDS film stacks, which can be affixed onto the optical surfaces of PV modules or concentrating mirrors. The EDS film stack consists of the EDS films that have Willow® Glass (WG) which has a thickness of 100 μm as the front surface. The WG sheets obtained from Corning Research and Development Corporation are customized in size and shape to cover the active area of the EDS films. The back surface of the EDS film stack is integrated onto the optical surface of the solar panel or mirror using optically clear adhesive (OCA) films or silicone adhesives. The OCA films (thickness 25 μm) are produced by 3M. The EDS film stacks have the architecture: WG/OCA/EDS Film/OCA/ over PV module or solar mirror. The power-supply units needed for activating the electrodes of the EDS film were designed and produced at Boston University. These power supply units provide three-phase, 1.2 kV voltage pulses at a very low current (micro-ampere) level and at a low frequency (≈ 5 Hz). The voltage pulses are applied to the electrodes in a sequence such that the train of pulses resembles a unidirectional traveling wave of electrical field on the surface of the EDS film. The dust particles on the surface become charged electrostatically and are levitated by the Coulomb force. The lateral sweeping action of the traveling electric field created by the three-phase voltages pulses then sweeps the dust off the surface. The energy consumed by the EDS electrodes is less than 0.2 Wh/m 2 /cleaning cycle, enabling energy-efficient restoration of output power (OPR) of PV module or specular reflectivity restoration (SRR) for solar mirrors. The EDS system consists of (1) an EDS film stack laminated onto the solar collectors, (2) connection of the EDS film to its power supply unit and (3) Interconnection of the power supply to PV modules or solar mirrors. Design, construction and assessment of field-testing units that have EDS stack laminated PV modules for evaluating the performance of the EDS films in solar fields is being carried out at BU. Our progress under this project, aimed at the advancement of EDS film technology, has reached DOE Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. Based on the extensive laboratory evaluations and limited field trials, as well as contacts with potential users, we believe that the technology has reached its commercial stage. We are conducting a cost analysis using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) System Advisory Model (SAM) and are preparing for field trials of EDS films in different solar fields in the US, Chile, India and in the Middle East. A brief description of EDS film performance, construction and testing of the field-test unit, autonomous operation of the field-test unit for evaluating EDS performance in increasing energy yield, associated revenue savings, and water conservation is presented.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Lamination of >21% Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Independent Process Control of Transport Layers and Interfaces

Transport layer and interface optimization is critical for improving the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) but is restricted by the conventional fabrication approach of sequential layer deposition. While the bottom transport layer is processed with minimum constraints, the narrow thermal and chemical stability window of the halide perovskite (HP) layer severely restricts the choice of top transport layer and its processing conditions. To overcome these limitations, we demonstrate lamination of HPs—where two transport layer-perovskite half-stacks are independently processed and diffusion-bonded at the HP-HP interface—as an alternative fabrication strategy that enables self-encapsulated solar cells. Power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of >21% are realized using cells that incorporate a novel transport layer combination along with dual-interface passivation via self-assembled monolayers, both of which are uniquely enabled by the lamination approach. This is the highest reported PCE for any laminated PSC encapsulated between glass substrates. We further show that this approach expands the processing window beyond traditional fabrication processes and is adaptable for different transport layer compositions. The laminated PSCs retained >75% of their initial PCE after 1000 h of 1-sun illumination at 40 °C in air using an all-inorganic transport layer configuration without additional encapsulation. Furthermore, a laminated 1 cm 2 device maintained a V oc of 1.16 V. Finally, the scalable lamination strategy in this study enables the implementation of new transport layers and interfacial engineering approaches for improving performance and stability.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cracked Gridline Wear Out Follows a Power Law

Cracks can form in Silicon solar cells in photovoltaic modules due to mechanical stresses arising from various extrinsic factors like handling and weather. While the immediate performance degradation may be minor, continuous loading overtime will degrade module performance. One probable reason is gridline surface wear across the cracked silicon with increased cyclic loading. In this work we propose a method to correlate gridline wear to module electrical degradation. We begin by conducting cyclic four-point bending tests on laminated silicon solar cells with a single crack and 22 intact gridlines for 10,000 cycles. We measure the progressive change in resistance during each loading cycle. We correlate it to a length scale called critical crack opening displacement (CCOD) that signifies failure of individual gridlines. By employing Weibull analysis, we determine the characteristic CCOD for all cycles and fit this data to a modified version of a wear power law. We observe that this i ts the data well. We also propose to study the effect of individual parameters in the power law equation and extend the equation to include material properties.

bending↗
DOE OSTI2021

Lamination of transparent conductive adhesives for tandem solar cell applications

A transparent conductive adhesive (TCA) interlayer for mechanically stacked multijunction solar cells provides adhesive strength and electrical connection between sub-cells when stacked. The fabrication of TCA sheets from an ethyl-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix and silver coated compliant conductive microspheres, similar to industry-standard EVA encapsulant sheets, compatible with a standard lamination process was developed. Blade coating TCA sheets using 3D printed blades and testing of vertical conduction through the interlayer with a TCA conductivity jig allowed for reproducible measurements and low-cost fabrication. The supplemental information provides design files to enable other researchers to produce their own blades and testing jigs. We identified 0.5 mm as an optimal blade height for producing lab-scale TCA sheets and 120 °C at 3 psi for 10 min as the optimal vacuum lamination process to minimize resistance and possible damage to samples. For TCA sheets with coverages between 0.75% and 9%, the series resistance was approximately 0.2 O cm2 which should result in minimal losses for one-sun photovoltaic applications.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Investigating Temperature Uniformity and Accuracy in PV Module Lamination: A Verification Study

This study investigates the temperature uniformity and accuracy of a photovoltaic (PV) module lamination process by addressing inconsistencies identified in 2017 data where irregular temperature changes were observed across setpoints. The 2017 data showed a notable drop in temperature upon bladder initiation, except for the 145 degrees Celsius profile. This inconsistency indicated potential inaccuracies in manual data recording methods. To address this concern, a verification experiment was conducted to evaluate temperature uniformity across the 2014 Bent River SPL2828 laminator platen and within test samples. Thermocouples, paired with Omega data acquisition software, were deployed to measure temperatures at multiple platen locations and within test samples. The experiment compared lamination temperatures of polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant when paired with solite glass or TPE backsheets. The methodology included verifying temperature uniformity directly on the platen and by using a large glass/EVA/glass sample using multiple thermocouples. Smaller samples were built with glass/EVA/glass and glass/EVA/backsheet configurations with one centered thermocouple to verify and compare sample temperatures. This verification aims to refine lamination temperature profiles, enhance data accuracy and provide insights into optimal process control for uniform module lamination. Ensuring consistent and uniform lamination may improve the accuracy and reliability of research outcomes.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Understanding Process–Structure Relationships during Lamination of Halide Perovskite Interfaces

Fabrication of halide perovskite (HP) solar cells typically involves the sequential deposition of multiple layers to create a device stack, which is limited by the thermal and chemical incompatibility of top contact layers with the underlying HP semiconductor. One emerging strategy to overcome these restrictions on material selection and processing conditions is lamination, where two half-stacks are independently processed and then diffusion bonded to complete the device. Lamination reduces the processing constraints on the top side of the solar cell to allow new device designs, expanded use of deposition methods, and self-encapsulation of devices. While laminated perovskite solar cells with high efficiencies and novel interlayer combinations have been demonstrated, there is a limited understanding of how the lamination process parameters affect the diffusion-bond quality and material properties of the resulting HP layer. In this study, we systematically vary temperature, pressure, and time during lamination and quantify the resulting impacts on bonded area, grain domain size, and photoluminescence. A design of experiments is performed, and statistical analysis of the experimental results is used to quantitatively evaluate the resulting process–structure–property relationships. The lamination temperature is found to be the key parameter controlling these properties. Furthermore, a temperature of 150 °C enables successful bonding over 95% of the substrate area and also results in increases in apparent grain domain size and photoluminescence intensity. Based on these insights, the lamination temperature of functional perovskite solar cell devices is varied, demonstrating the importance of the resulting bond quality on device performance metrics.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Lessons from the IEC Durability of Adhesion Accelerated Test Sequence

The IEC 62788-1-1 and IEC 63209-2 standards use aging sequences for durability of adhesion in photovoltaic (PV) modules, which may be evaluated using the single cantilever beam (SCB) test. Because the encapsulant forms critical interfaces with the front glass and solar cells, degradation at those interfaces under ultraviolet (UV) exposure, elevated temperature, and humidity can lead to interfacial delamination - compromising the long-term reliability. In this work, adhesion durability of UV-transmitting poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) encapsulant to glass and to silicon solar cells is evaluated after sequenced UV and damp heat aging (85C/85%RH). Laminates were prepared using StarPhire solar front glass with thin glass or PERC cells, and two EVA formulations with different concentrations of siloxane coupling agent. Adhesion was quantified by measuring critical debond energy using the SCB method. Both formulations exhibit similar qualitative trends, while different adhesion is observed at the periphery despite the use of low-shrink manufacturing. The results show that while glass/EVA adhesion remains stable or increases after UV exposure and shows only moderate changes after damp heat, the EVA/cell interface exhibits an irreversible loss of adhesion following UV and then damp heat exposure. Although glass/EVA interfaces generally exhibit lower debond energies, the EVA/cell interface is significantly more vulnerable to UV-driven degradation, identifying it as the dominant reliability risk location through early- and intermediate-module life. These results demonstrate that accelerated aging sequences can expose large, interface-specific losses in adhesion durability and underscore the importance of interface engineering for long-term PV module reliability.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Extended Accelerated Stress Testing of Lamination-Free Edge-Sealed Photovoltaic Minimodules

Lamination-free minimodules are constructed with silicon solar cells between glass sheets and an edge seal of polyisobutylene and silicone. These samples are stressed using a repeated sequential testing sequence including ultraviolet-containing simulated solar spectrum light exposure at elevated temperature, damp heat, humidity freeze, and thermal cycling adapted from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) TS 63209-2:2022. The minimodule performance throughout the stressing is characterized by flash testing and electroluminescence imaging. Results are compared to conventional laminated minimodules using the same type of solar cells. The lamination-free minimodules experience up to 8% power loss compared to roughly 3% for the laminated versions. However, those losses, dominated by current and fill factor, are caused by glass soiling and busbar ribbon separation on the cells. When glass is replaced and the stressed cells are contacted with probes bypassing the delaminated ribbons, the initial performance is recovered, and overall losses of the lamination-free samples become negligible.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Round-robin weathering test of various polymeric back-sheets for PV modules with different ultraviolet irradiation and sample temperatures

Durability assessment of materials exposed to natural weathering with expected service lifetimes of more than 20 years requires accelerated testing of the UV stability, especially for polymeric materials. Fraunhofer ISE organized an interlaboratory comparison for testing different back-sheets in various test laboratories using different UV sources. The five participating test laboratories used three different types of UV sources. The interaction of the UV radiation with the polymers used in PV modules is main subject of this round-robin. Laminates were produced by using solar glass and a suitable EVA encapsulant combined with 10 different back-sheets. The simultaneous usage of different optical filters allowed to investigate roughly the spectral sensitivity and the intensity impact. The degradation was followed by spectral reflectance and transmittance measurements and calculation of the yellowness index as degradation indicator. Clear differences in the degradation behavior of the different products were found.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Comparative study on the overall energy performance between photovoltaic and Low-E insulated glass units

In this report a novel semi-transparent building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) laminate was developed and introduced in this paper. It was produced by cutting standard mono-crystalline silicon solar cells into small strips and then making electrical connections between each strip before laminating the cells between two layers of glass. The overall energy performance and energy saving potential of the BIPV insulated glass unit (IGU) under real world conditions were identified through a side by side comparative study. Compared to the reference IGU, the BIPV IGU had lower solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) but much higher U-factor. The average HVAC electricity saving of the BIPV IGU was about 10% relative to the reference IGU. Daylighting measurement and analysis were carried out to evaluate the trade-offs associated with the BIPV IGU between daylight, glare, and lighting energy use. The results indicated that the BIPV IGU is better than the reference IGU in reducing discomfort glare. However, if the most conservative viewpoint near the window is used for the assessment, a lower transmittance BIPV IGU is required to bring the overall discomfort levels below the perceptible level. Lastly, the net energy saving potential associated with the novel BIPV IGU was identified based on the power, thermal and daylighting performance. On average, the BIPV IGU saved 16.8% of the total electricity use of the room. Further studies and improvement on the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells, the optimal transmittance as well as the thermal properties would make this technology more energy-efficient and affordable.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Solar Cell Metallization Wear is Sensitive to Loading Frequency

Here, we performed cyclic loading of photovoltaic laminates with precracked silicon cells to explore if and how loading frequency and contact pressure influence the ensuing gridline wear-out process. A measurement of parallel resistance across cracked gridlines on a laminated cell coupon was used as the metric for gridline electrical contact degradation. A statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis of the experimental results discerned that loading frequency is a more significant factor than contact pressure for gridline degradation.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Component-based SHGC determination of BIPV glazing for product comparison

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are intrinsically designed to generate electricity and to provide at least one building-related function. When BIPV modules act as glazing products in windows, skylights or curtain walls, their ability to control the transmission of solar energy into the building must be characterised by a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) or g value (also known as Total Solar Energy Transmittance – TSET – or “solar factor”). For the comparison of BIPV glazing products consisting of one PV laminate and possibly further, conventional glazing layers separated by gas-filled cavities, the procedures documented in international standards for architectural glazing (e.g. ISO 9050 and EN 410) form a suitable starting point. Easily implemented modifications to these procedures are proposed to take both optical inhomogeneity (if relevant) and extraction of electricity from BIPV glazing units into account. Geometrically complex glazing and shading devices, and light-scattering glazing layers, are outside the scope of the proposed methodology; SHGC determination for obliquely incident solar radiation is also excluded. For these cases, the experimental calorimetric approach documented in [ISO 19467:2017; ISO 19467-2:2021] is recommended. The paper also presents results and conclusions from an implementation exercise and sensitivity study carried out by participants of the IEA-PVPS Task 15 on BIPV. The cell coverage ratio in the PV laminate, the thermal resistance offered by the glazing configuration, the choice of boundary conditions and the effect of extracting electricity were all identified as parameters which significantly affect the SHGC value determined for a given type of BIPV glazing. A practicable approach to accommodate the great variety of dimensions typical for BIPV glazing is also proposed. These findings should pave the way for modifying the existing component-based standards for architectural glazing to take the specific features of BIPV glazing into account.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

BACKFLIP Project: Determination of BACKsheet Material Properties: A Comparison of Market-Benchmark Technologies to Novel Non-Fluoro-Based Co-Extruded Backsheet Materials and Their Correlation and Impact on PV Module Degradation Rates

Quantifying degradation rate of backsheets will help procuring materials for 30+ years. Today most backsheets on the market have a laminated PET core; polyolefin materials may provide better properties for backsheets (barrier to water, mechanical properties through UV and hydrolytic environments, etc.). End-of-life regulations may require fluorine-free backsheet products in future global markets. Parametrized equation predicting the service life of backsheets, and validated by both lab and outdoor extensive testing. Technical and commercial confidence to the entire value chain: from backsheet and module manufacturers to the downstream community (IPP, banks, developers) that materials of higher quality can help reduce finance costs, therefore driving down LCOE. A fast track PV module market adaptation for novel high-quality materials, such as co-extruded polyolefin-core backsheets, by obtaining unbiased durability data.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗