Honeywell Electronic Materials has expanded its line of Solarc
anti-reflective coating materials to include a new formulation that
allows for easier application and less material usage. The new product,
called Honeywell Solarc RPV, is specifically designed to be applied
through single-sided roller coating application, which is easier and
allows panel manufacturers to use less material than alternative coating
methods. Solarc materials are based on advanced materials used in
semiconductor manufacturing. They are transparent coatings that improve
the light transmittance through the glass that covers photovoltaic, or
PV, panels, thus increasing the PV module efficiency and power output.
These coatings also significantly reduce glare from the glass, allowing
the PV panel to better blend with its surroundings. Honeywell's
Solarc coatings reduce reflection, resulting in more light reaching the
solar cell, which translates into higher power conversion. The new
coating retains Solarc coating's advanced light transmittance and
high durability. With single-sided applications, it also enables perfect
index of refraction (RI) matching between air and glass, while avoiding
RI mismatch at the glass and EVA interface seen on double-sided
coatings. Demonstrating a four percent increase in transmittance at 550
nanometers, Solarc RPV coating has consistently produced three to 3.5
percent average transmittance gain across a broad solar spectrum that is
relevant for PV cell operation, from 350 nanometers through 1,100
nanometers, according to the company. The new coating has also
demonstrated durability in a broad variety of accelerated tests designed
to imitate harsh environmental conditions to which a PV panel is likely
to be exposed during its lifetime.
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