Development and testing of light-weight PV modules based on glass-fibre reinforcement
Jonathan Govaerts, Bin Luo, Tom Borgers, Rik Van Dyck, Arvid van der Heide, Loïc Tous, Arnaud Morlier, Fabiana Lisco, Lorenzo Cerasti, Marco Galiazzo, Jef Poortmans
Abstract
In this paper we report on our approach on integrating c-Si PV into lightweight structures, in particular towards vehicle integration. To this end we want to get rid of the (bulk weight of the) glass but seek a suitable replacement in terms of mechanical stability. First we elaborate on the most basic standards and norms that VIPV products should relate to in terms of (thermo-)mechanical testing. Then, for the experimental part, 2 concepts are investigated. In a first approach, we reinforced the encapsulant with glass fibre material, while in a second one we applied a dedicated glass-fibre-reinforced sheet as a replacement of the backsheet. In both cases we stay as close as possible to using commercially available material. For each approach we elaborate the testing that has been carried out: thermal cycling, vibrations, mechanical shock and hail impact. On a final note, we point out some initial damp heat testing results, that are a particular challenge for light-weight modules without glass.