MATERIALS | PHOTOVOLTAICS
Right: Heliatek’s HeliaSol films have been used in the ‘Solar Graffiti’ project in Mexico
PP backsheets Borealis has also developed a co-extruded polypropylene (PP) solar backsheet for photovol- taic applications. The core and outer layers of the Icosolar CPO 3G
backsheet film are made using Borealis’ new umbrella brand for solar grades and products, called Quentys. Two grades of Quentys – SF700CL and SF900WL – will be sold directly to its new manufac- turing partner, Isovoltaic, which then produces the solar backsheet at its plant near Graz in Austria. Borealis says the backsheet will boost the
operational reliability of PV modules due to: increased module output, thanks to high reflectiv- ity; superior water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and acetic acid permeability; and, high hydrolytic stability and insulation properties. Because there are no adhesive layers, there is no
risk of inner-layer delamination. Also, co-extruded PP – as a single-step production technology – en- sures high production quality and homogeneity, and reduces manufacturing complexity, which further increases its appeal as a replacement for conven- tional PET-based backsheets, says the company. In addition to the solar backsheets, Borealis plans
to introduce other polyolefins for the solar industry – including grades to make encapsulant films.
Below:
Armageddon Energy has made a light- weight solar panel using EconCore’s ThermHex technology
Honeycomb cores EconCore says that its thermoplastic honeycomb sandwich panel technology – which is based on thermoforming – has been used in a number of new applications recently, including a new design of solar panel. The panel, from Armageddon Energy, is one-
third of the weight of a standard glass equivalent solar panel, due mainly to the design being based on EconCore’s ThermHex technology. “The potential of a lightweight, durable solar panel is huge and this development opens up new markets and application perspectives, including
those beyond photovoltaics,” said Tomasz Czar- necki, COO of EconCore. The substrate is Zytel polyamide from DuPont
that is produced continuously and can be in-line laminated with skin layers (DuPont’s Vizilon thermoplastic composite) to deliver a cost-effective sandwich product uniquely suited to high volume production.
Mexican graffiti French energy group Engie recently launched an international advertising campaign, ‘Engie Harmo- ny’, whose first project is ‘Solar Graffiti’ – an installa- tion on a sports field near Mexico City that com- bines the graffiti with solar films from Heliatek. ‘Solar Graffiti’ is a project in which the Gomez
Farias sports ground is being revived with ‘green’ lighting. With the energy stored during the day, the sports field can be illuminated in the evening. A total of 111 HeliaSol films were installed – both on the wall elements and above, in wave forms. HeliaSol is Heliatek’s ready-to-use solar product solution that can be applied to flat and curved surfaces and is flexible and lightweight (1 kg/m²). “HeliaSol organic solar films are a perfect fit for this urban installation,” said Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek. “Together, we bring decentralised, decarbonised power generation to city centres.” Engie owns an 8% stake in Heliatek, which has two production facilities in Germany.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.osu.edu �
www.liu.se �
www.unisa.edu.au �
www.borealisgroup.com �
www.econcore.com �
www.dupont.com �
www.heliatek.com
16 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | May 2018
www.filmandsheet.com
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