BioSolar’s BioBacksheet improves solar panel efficiency and power output
PC's Solar Photovoltaics Blog
BioSolar Inc., developer of a breakthrough technology to producebio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, reports that rigorous testing by anindependent authority reveals that BioBacksheet can actually improve the power output of solar panels by dissipating heat faster.
Theefficiency of a PV module is determined by the percentage of theincoming solar radiation that is converted to electricity within thesolar panel. The efficiency of popular silicon solar cells decreasesdramatically as the temperature of the module increases.
According to tests performed in June by ThermTest, Inc, a leading independentauthority in thermo physical measurements and instrumentation,BioBacksheet’s measured thermal conductivity was 70 percent higher thanthe current petroleum based backsheets.
The higher thermalconductivity of the materials used to make the BioBacksheet allows theheat that builds up from solar exposure to be more effectivelydissipated into the surrounding air. Thus, the higher thermalconductivity contributes to a lower operating temperature within the PVmodule, directly leading to higher energy efficiency and improved poweroutput for PV modules incorporating a BioBacksheet.
Dr. DavidLee, CEO of BioSolar, said: “We were pleasantly surprised by thisfinding. We designed the BioBacksheet with the goal of being green,lower cost and higher durability. But now, BioBacksheet has a much morevaluable feature – improved power output. We are working closely withone of our partners to optimize the integration of BioBacksheet withtheir panels to improve efficiency and lower cost.
“We have just attended the InterSolar 2010 Conference and met with a number of panelmanufacturers. The interest in BioBacksheet was very high and confirmedfor our team that we truly have a breakthrough product.”
