Soiling and cleaning: Initial observations from 5-year photovoltaic glass coating durability study

Toth, Sarah; Muller, Matthew; Miller, David C.; Moutinho, Helio; To, Bobby; Micheli, Leonardo; Linger, Jeffrey; Engtrakul, Chaiwat; Einhorn, Asher; Simpson, Lin

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2018.05.039

Soiling and cleaning: Initial observations from 5-year photovoltaic glass coating durability study

Journal Article · Thu Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2018.05.039· OSTI ID:1458821

Toth, Sarah ^[1]; Muller, Matthew ^[1]; Miller, David C. ^[1]; Moutinho, Helio ^[1]; To, Bobby ^[1]; Micheli, Leonardo ^[1]; Linger, Jeffrey ^[1]; Engtrakul, Chaiwat ^[1]; Einhorn, Asher ^[1]; Simpson, Lin ^[1]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

The contamination of solar photovoltaic cover glass can significantly reduce the transmittance of light to the surface of the photovoltaic cell, reducing the module's power output. The solar industry has been developing antireflection (AR) and antisoiling (AS) surface coatings to enhance light transmittance and mitigate the impacts of soiling. Although uncoated glass has been field tested for decades, minimal data exist to demonstrate the durability of AR and AS coatings against abrasion and surface erosion, including from: natural weathering, airborne sand, and industry cleaning practices. Coupons 75 mm square of varying types have been field-deployed to gather long-term data on coating durability; the initial results are presented here after 1 year of outdoor exposure near Sacramento, California. Duplicate sets of coupons were cleaned monthly per four different cleaning practices. All coupons demonstrated inorganic soiling as well as microscale biological contamination, regardless of cleaning method. Additionally, full-sized, field-aged modules from other areas of the world presented with similar types of contamination as the field-aged coupons; micrographs and results from genomic sequencing of this contamination are included here. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy, surface roughness, transmittance, and surface energy analysis of representative specimens and cleaning practices are presented.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1458821

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1591687

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5J00-71853

Journal Information:: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Journal Name: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells Journal Issue: C Vol. 185; ISSN 0927-0248

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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