Researchers in Germany have designed breakthrough vehicle-integrated PV (VIPV) modules, meaning solar panels for electric vehicles.
According to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) study, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) is a superior alternative to traditional covers and offers a 44-74 percent weight reduction.
“The achieved high-optical-coupling is outstanding and was also of high interest when first presented at the PVinMotion Conference 2024,” Andre Schüler, corresponding author of the study, told pv magazine earlier .
This innovative GFRP material not only enhances efficiency, but the panel cover is also strong enough to survive hailstones, positioning itself as a potential game changer in solar technology .
Lightweight but tough cover with solar panel
Solar panels usually get heavy glass covering, but the Fraunhofer scientists tried a new approach.
They wanted a covering that was lighter but could still let in lots of sunlight to make electricity. That is why the new cover was derived from GFRP, a material made of fiber-like glass mixed with a strong plastic.
Schüler highlighted that earlier studies have identified the necessity for polymer front sheets to outperform ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a fluorine-based plastic.
The team conducted many tests to check the muscles of the new material, and the results showed encouragement.
“Experimental devices withstood hail tests, avoiding cell cracking after impact,” wrote pv magazine.
GFRP modules with various layer thicknesses and glass fiber weights demonstrated exceptional optical performances with only a four percent loss during heat cycling.
The preliminary findings suggest the new resistant material offers strength against mechanical pressure and lower susceptibility to manufacturing failures, making it a strong candidate for the market.
“One significant finding from the mechanical impact tests on the GFRP modules is that they exhibited improved impact resistance, with a low occurrence of local, less severe, and non-propagating cell cracks compared to polymer-based front-sheet modules,” noted the study.
What is next for powerful panels?
The study presented at the PVinMotion Conference 2024 in Switzerland showed decent optical coupling achieved with GFRP. However, the researchers are still trying to figure out how to make them long-lasting.
“Provided that the GFRP front-sheets can cost-efficiently be produced on a large scale, the GFRP module manufacturing concept remains very close to the standard lamination process of PV modules by simply replacing the polymer-based front-sheet foil with a GFRP semi-product,” said the team.
The research also emphasized the need for more experimentation and development to optimize the module stack’s resistance to dampness and UV radiation.
We “show results of cut susceptibility tests with an increased performance compared to modules with a polymeric front layer,” reads the study.
“Development topics remain as shown by damp-heat and UV irradiation testing, were an optimization of the module stack still needs to be performed.”
Although still a lab concept, if implemented in large manufacturing settings, we could eventually see lighter, more efficient solar panels installed on automobiles.
And, if done correctly, this would allow future cars to operate entirely on sunlight and make the future more environment friendly.
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