The Spanish solar PV module manufacturer Helios Energy Europe S.L. is one of the few PV manufactures who provides solar energy panels with pyramidal and texturised glass.
The textured glass used in the modules is antireflective and since the surface area is enlarged, more energy is captured through diffusive light collection. However, Helios notes that it is not only the textured surface that boosts the modules’ light transmitting capacity, but also its chemical composition and, more specifically, their low iron oxide content which reduces absorption. Therefore, scattered multidirectional light is trapped in the module and transmitted onto the solar cells. All this leads to a 1 percent improvement in efficiency compared to normal solar glass.
Another benefit is that the greater thermal dissipation over the glass surface helps in performance and the increase in lifespan of the cells and module.
According to a recent Fraunhofer study, the lightly structured glass surface transmits more light to the cells than glass with a flat surface. And modules with micro-textured glass, which are installed at an inclination of 30 degrees, have 5.4 percent greater annual return according to the German EuPD Research. Helios believes that its Heliene PV modules built with pyramidal glass may even boost performance by as much as 10 percent per year through diffusive light collection when solar panel installation is vertical.
For more information you can find visit Helios at stand P24 near the PV Seminar Hall at this year’s Solar Power UK Conference and Exhibition 2012.
