Photovoltaic solar modules for building integration

Status

completed

Summary

The project covers the development of new manufacturing technique for photovoltaic solar modules, which fulfil the special requirements of building integration. Building integration of photovoltaics (BIPV means, that PV-modules produce energy and are also part of the buildings covering or facade or are used, for instance, as shading element. At present, PV-modules are only available in small sizes and fix dimensions. Therefore, they often are not suitable for the building integration.

Nowadays, state-of-the-art-technology is the manufacturing of small photovoltaic modules (typical size: 1.5 m2) with an EVA-foil (etylen vinyl acetat) as laminating material and a plastic back sheet foil ("Tedlar") at the back of the module.

Within this project a brand new lamination and production technology for PV-modules based on crystalline silicon cells has been developed. The technology uses PVB-foils (polyvinyl butyral) between two glass plates for age-resistant encapsulation of the silicon cells. The structure of the modules corresponds to those of laminated safety glass. Compared to the EVA-foil, the usage of the PVB-foil has the big advantage, that the PV-modules now have the same mechanical and safety-relevant characteristics than laminated safety glass. Therefore, new areas of application for these "laminated safety glass modules" in building integration (overhead glazings, etc.) appear for PV. With this new kind of PV-modules solar facades and solar roofs can be realized, which extend the application areas of photovoltaics substantially. Moreover, due to cost synergies (the modules serve as energy producers as well as facade elements) one can expect a substantial cost reduction of PV in building integration in the medium-term.

Regarding its size as well as its structure, the developed solar module is a very innovative product. The modules are manufactured with a production technology, which, so far, was only known from laminated safety glass technology. The modules can be manufactured on demand in variable sizes, which corresponds to the special requirements of building integration. Due to their "break-through security" the modules are applicable for facades as well as overhead glazings.

Project management

• financial
  Josef Ertl
  Ertl Glas AG
• technical
  Dieter Hornbachner
  Hornbachner Energie Innovation (HEI)

Project or cooperation partner

• Martin Aichinger, Dieter Moor
• Ertex Solar GmbH