For 18 months, BioSolar has experimented on how to make backsheets for protecting photovoltaic solar cells without petroleum-based films like polyester.
The company recently announced the materials in its BioBacksheet and is planning to increase production for testing by photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers. Backsheets are used in nearly all photovoltaic modules, as the bottom-most layer, to protect the solar cell from environmental hazards like moisture and UV rays.
David Lee, CEO and chair of BioSolar, said the company experimented with various bio-based materials before settling on a composite of cellulosic material from cotton and a nylon derived from castor beans.
"We went through many stages of development with trail and error," he said. "It took a long time to settle on those two components." Lee said 99.9 percent of the backsheet is the cotton-castor bean composite, but did not disclose what other materials are involved.
BioSolar recently completed small-scale testing of the BioBacksheet with select PV manufactures, Lee said, and plans to increase production of material for testing by more manufacturers. "It's going to take a while. We will be able to produce large quantities by the end of this year," he said. "Most of the photovoltaic manufacturers are very much interested in trying and finding out whether it meets their requirements."
Lee said the BioBacksheet already meets PV standards like thermal and humidity requirements, and said it can be cheaper to produce than current backsheets. Full-scale production of the BioBacksheet will depend on commitments from PV makers, he said. |
