TRANSPARENT MODULES
Transparent solar modules offer very attractive BIPV sollutions. Modules with
different transparency rates and/or different technologies are available on the
market. Most common they consist of transparent crystalline cells, very often are
also modules with transparent back side and with standard crystalline cells.
Another interesting sollution are thin film transparent amorphous modules.
Transparent modules can be used as window glazing in usual windows, sunspaces,
they can be integrated into roofs etc. Quite often they are also a part of
shading devices whether movable or not. Such systems are also knows as
shadow-voltaic systems. Transparent modules can be also part of energy
efficient glazing, where they are used instead of usual glass. With coloured back
side interesting architectural visual effects can be obtained. Such sollutions are
often used in old architectural protected heritage buildings. Example of heritage
building renovation with photovoltaic roof tiles you may also find in roof tiles
section. Very attractive are also thin film modules because they offer some tailor
made sollutions - different shapes or patterns within modules are possible.
Construction of transparent solar modules. Single glazing (left) and
thermal insulating glazing (right) laminated with PVB foil
(credit: pvresources)
Transparent solar cells
(courtesy/foto: Sunways, Ferit Kuyas)
TRANSPARENT MODULES AS GLAZING
Facade glazing
Different types of transparent modules are used as glazing, most common
crystalline as single glazing or double (low U-value) insulation glass.
Transparent modules can also be used in sunspaces and atriums.
Facade integrated transparent modules in Solar fabrik facility, Freiburg and in
Akademie-du-Mont-cenis, Herne, Germany
(credit: pvresources)
Roof integrated glazing
As roof-integrated transparent modules usualy glass-glass laminates without frame are used. For Special roof types like curved roof plastic laminates are used. Crystalline cells are most common sollution - transparency rate is defined by distance between solar cells (as larger the distance as larger the transparency rate of transparent modules).
For
roof integrated glazings use of laminated safety insulating glass modules is
obligatory due safety issues.
Train station Berlin, roof integrated transparent BIPV system
(courtesy: SMA Solar Technology)
Floriade exhibition, the Netherlands, roof integrated transparent modules
(courtesy: Bram Vorster)
TRANSPARENT MODULES AS SHADING DEVICES
Transparent modules are often part of shading devices. Shading devices - like overhangs for example - can be fixed or movable. Manual tracking-combined with shadowing system, or automatic tracking systems can be realised. Very often they are realised as venetian blinds or classic awnings. Vertical ond horizontal shading devices are used in practice. If transparent modules are integrated into transparent roof or sunspace glazings they also offer some shading so additional shading devices are usually not necessary. Some shading devices you may find in pictures below. For details about shading calculation, shading analysis tools etc. please see shading section.
Transparent modules as roof cover and as shading device at the same time.
Solarsiedlung, municipal housing, Freiburg, Germany (left, credit: pvresources).
Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara, Australia (right, courtesy:
Norman Disney & Young)
TRANSPARENT FLEXIBLE MODULES
Front and back side of flexible modules, with crystalline solar cells, are most
often produced from plastic materials like
poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) known also as plexiglas® or polycarbonate.
Polycarbonate is one of the most common plastic materials
used. Widely used is polycarbonate available under commercial name makrolon®
for example.
COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE TRANSPARENT MODULES