Prevention of ice and snow accumulation on solar panels

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An important issue for Canadian based solar technology companies such as Unconquered Sun Solar Technologies Inc. is related to the icing and snow accumulation on solar panels during the winter season. This project will utilize both chemical methods, in the form of hydrophobic coatings, and mechanical methods, in the form of disturbing waves, to minimize the ice and snow accumulation on solar cells. There are various forms of ice and snow that accumulate on solar panels during the winter, all of which greatly affect the performance of the solar cells. The adhesion behaviour of these various forms, including snow, hoarfrost, rim and glaze, can be investigated and minimized by controlling the surface chemistry and roughness. In this proposal hydrophobic surfaces with water contact angles below 150° will be preferred because of their stability and durability. Transparent hydrophobic coatings such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) will be applied to both glass and Aluminum surfaces. The coatings will be tested for static and dynamic water contact angles, the adhesion of various forms of ice and snow to the coating, and the effectiveness of the disturbing waves to break the adhesive bonds between the substrate and the ice. The coating with the most favourable results will be considered as the most suitable coating. The ability to minimize the snow and ice accumulation on solar panels will lead to more energy production, greater customer satisfaction, and will encourage more communities toward the implementation of solar energy on their properties.