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Solar Technologies
Thin film photovoltaics: We offer specialised glass and coated glass products, including a comprehensive range of TCO glass, to be used as substrates or superstrates in thin film photovoltaic modules.
Crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules: We offer low iron float glass products with high solar transmission in a range of thicknesses for use as cover plates in crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules. These products can be combined with our anti-reflection (AR) coating technology to increase solar transmission further. Additional functionalities like anti-soiling or UV/IR blocking are available on request.
Concentrated solar power technology: We offer low iron float glass products with high solar transmission, specifically designed to be used in solar mirrors for concentrated solar power technology.
Solar thermal collectors: We offer low iron float glass products with high solar transmission for use as cover plates in solar thermal collectors. These products can be combined with our anti-reflection (AR) coating technology to increase solar transmission further. Additional functionalities like anti-soiling are available on request.
Thin Film Photovoltaics
Characteristics of thin film photovoltaics: Thin film photovoltaic modules produce power at low cost per watt. They are ideal for large scale solar farms, as well as Building Integrated Photovoltaic applications (BIPV). They benefit from generating consistent power, not only at elevated temperatures, but also on cloudy, overcast days and at low sun angles.
For BIPV applications, thin film photovoltaics can offer excellent aesthetics. Thin film photovoltaic modules also benefit from a relatively small drop in power output under partial shadowing when compared with crystalline silicon photovoltaics. This gives thin film photovoltaic modules greater design flexibility when integrated into the building envelope.
Thin film photovoltaics consist of a stack of extremely thin photosensitive layers sandwiched between a top Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) coating and a back contact. The photovoltaic layers are laminated between a TCO glass such as NSG TEC™, and a low cost backing material, such as standard or thermally strengthened Pilkington Optifloat™ Clear glass.
Thin Film photovoltaic technologies: NSG TEC™ can be used with a number of thin film photovoltaic technologies, including amorphous silicon (a-Si), tandem (a-Si/μ-Si) – a combination of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon, cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium (gallium) diselenide (CIS, CIGS) and dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC).
Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics
Characteristics of crystalline silicon photovoltaics: Crystalline silicon photovoltaics is the most widely used photovoltaic technology. Crystalline silicon photovoltaics are modules built using crystalline silicon solar cells (c-Si). These have high efficiency, making crystalline silicon photovoltaics an interesting technology where space is at a premium.
Crystalline silicon solar cells: There are various types of crystalline silicon solar cells, however the basic design with respect to glass is broadly similar. Crystalline silicon solar cells are connected together and then laminated under toughened or heat strengthened, high transmittance glass to produce reliable, weather resistant photovoltaic modules. The glass type that can be used for this technology is a low iron float glass such as Pilkington Optiwhite™.
NSG Group can provide additional functionalities like anti-soiling or UV/IR blocking on request.
Bi-facial c-Si modules are growing in prominence due to their higher efficiency. These module capture energy from both the front and back sides. Here a glass-glass module is used with the crystalline silicon cells being laminated between two high transmission glasses.
Concentrated Solar Power Technology
Characteristics of concentrated solar power technology: Concentrated solar power technology uses solar mirrors to concentrate sunlight.
The concentrated sunlight can either be directed onto a heat transfer material which generates electricity through a turbine, or onto a very high performance photovoltaic cell, which converts it into electricity. Concentrated solar power systems require direct sunlight and they generally follow the sun's path during the day through an axis tracking system. Typical examples are parabolic troughs and heliostat power towers.
The high performance solar mirrors are manufactured using metallic reflective coatings and weather protective paints deposited onto very high performance low iron float glass.
Since the sunlight has to travel through the low iron glass twice before reaching the heat transfer material, very high light transmittance, low absorptance glass such as Pilkington Optiwhite™ S, Pilkington Microwhite™ or low iron NSG TEC™ Sodium Block is required for this application.
Solar Thermal Collectors
Characteristics of solar thermal collectors: Solar water heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a water storage tank or interconnecting pipes and a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to the tank. The sun's energy is used to heat water flowing through the interconnecting pipes. The water can be heated for a wide variety of uses, including domestic, commercial and industrial applications.
Flat-plate solar thermal collectors consist of an insulated box which contains a dark absorber plate under a glass cover that hermetically seals the system while maximizing the energy input. The glass cover plate will transmit the sunlight while protecting the system from harsh weather.
Toughened, high transmittance glass is required for this application; our Pilkington Optiwhite™ is ideal for such applications.