MATERIALS | PHOTOVOLTAICS


Directive (EU) 2020/2184, Article 11(2)(b). The Xfloat systems are certified under NSF-61 section 5 and suitable for deployment in sensitive environ- ments such as drinking water reservoirs. Xfloat technology is already deployed in the US, Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia. A recent project in Singapore showed a 28% yield improve- ment using its FPV-T. “Floating solar is rapidly emerging as a comple- mentary pillar in the renewable energy landscape,” said Ricard Vandellos, vice president, business management plastic additives for EMEA and Latin America at BASF.


Above: BASF’s light stabiliser technology improves the longevity of Xfloat’s FPV systems


have been installed on the 27m high chimney of the combined heat and power plant. The pilot plant, with a total collector area of around 70m², generates up to 4,400 kWh of green electricity per year – equivalent to the energy requirements of an average household. Thanks to the integrated adhesive backing, the


flexible modules can be applied directly to the curved surface of the chimney with no additional substructure. Another advantage of the solar films is their low reflectivity. The matte surface means that incident sunlight is hardly reflected – ensuring that pilots and ground staff are not affected by glare. “The expansion of solar power is a central component of our sustainability strategy,” said Thilo Schmid, CEO of Flughafen Köln/Bonn GmbH. “Here we are testing a new, green product that complements our existing systems.”


UV protection Xfloat, which builds floating solar technology, has used light stabiliser technology from BASF to improve the longevity of its floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems. It has integrated BASF’s Tinuvin 2730 ED – which


protects HDPE from degradation – into its float design to ensure long-term durability. The additive enables the floats to withstand harsh environmental conditions for over 30 years, extending the lifespan of the solar modules. This helps reduce mainte- nance and replacement costs. “This has helped us enhance the durability of our systems with materials that meet high perfor- mance and safety standards – especially for sensitive applications like drinking water reser- voirs,” said Avi Alcalay, chief technology officer at Xfloat. The stabiliser complies with stringent drinking water regulations, including the EU Drinking Water


14 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | April 2026


Conductive research Swedish researchers have devised a ‘recipe’ that makes it easier to manufacture electrically conduc- tive polymers – which have a role in organic solar cells – in larger quantities. The researchers, at Chalmers University of


Technology, say the method avoids the use of harmful chemicals and is much more cost-effective than existing methods. “Once higher production volumes are achieved, it is possible to work with the material in a com- pletely different way,” said says Christian Müller, professor at the department of chemistry and chemical engineering and co-author of a paper in Science Advances. The key to the new manufacturing method was


discovered by accident during a routine experi- ment. When a chemical reaction was happening too quickly – and the resulting plastic reached its final state too early – the researchers reduced the heat in the process. This led to the discovery that the material can be produced at room temperature – with fewer steps, lower energy consumption and no toxic chemicals. “This production method makes the conductive plastic much better at conducting an electric charge, which also means that the electronics that use this kind of material can be made more powerful,” added Müller. The next step in the research will be to devise a method that can produce even larger volumes. “It’s a big step from the lab to industrial-scale


production, but we hope that this new production method will be of benefit,” said Müller. Conductive plastics can also be used for various


kinds of implants or be 3D-printed to create electronic adhesive plasters that can detect an infection, for example.


Chiral assistance Japanese scientists have also been studying how


www.filmandsheet.com


IMAGE: XFLOAT


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