Functional surfaces for solar cover glass

用水力、风能和太阳能等可再生能源发电取代化石燃料发电至关重要。据预测，到2027年，太阳能将成为全球最重要的发电技术。2022年太阳能光伏发电量超过200GWp，目前的装机基数已经超过1TWp。尽管太阳能的发展速度令人难以置信，但它是一项年轻的技术，还有很多事情可以做，以提高其性能。该项目解决了用于保护太阳能吸收器的太阳能玻璃盖板上发生的重大损失。损耗的发生是由于玻璃外表面的反射，也由于盖板的污染导致进入吸收器的光的衰减而发生。目前，单层多孔硅抗反射（AR）涂层被应用于外玻璃表面。这种涂层具有光学效果，但在模块清洗过程中容易磨损。现在很明显，即使在英国这样的温和气候下，它的使用寿命也只有6年左右，在英国，面板每年清洗两次。此外，这些涂层是亲水性的。它们的高表面能增加了对污垢的附着力。增加的污垢会超过低反射的好处。这个项目将提出解决这个问题的新方法。我们发现了一种抗紫外线、低折射率、疏水的聚合物。将这种聚合物薄膜层压到玻璃上，结合了玻璃的结构强度和抗渗性，以及聚合物的低反射率和疏水性。该项目旨在开发一种有效的层压工艺，使聚合物/玻璃具有良好的附着力，同时保持聚合物片材的材料优势。

Replacing fossil fuel electricity with energy generated from renewable sources such as hydro, wind and solar is essential. It is forecast that Solar will become the most important electricity generation technology worldwide by 2027. Over 200GWp of solar photovoltaics was manufactured in 2022 and the current installed base already exceeds 1TWp. Despite the incredible rate of expansion, solar is a young technology and much can be done to improve its performance. This project addresses the significant losses that occur at the solar glass cover sheet used to protect the solar absorber.Losses occur due to reflection from the glass outer surface and also occur due to soiling of the cover sheet causing attenuation of the light into the absorber. Currently, a single layer porous silica anti-reflection (AR) coating is applied to the outer glass surface. This coating is optically effective, but is vulnerable to abrasion during module cleaning. It is now apparent that its useful life is only about 6 years even in a benign climate such as the UK where panels are cleaned twice per annum. In addition, these coatings are hydrophilic. Their high surface energy causes increased adhesion to soiling. The increased soiling can outweigh the benefits of the lower reflection. This project will develop a new approach to the problem. We have discovered a polymer that is UV resistant, has a low refractive index and is hydrophobic. Laminating a thin film of this polymer to glass combines the benefits of the structural strength and impermeability of glass with the low reflectance and hydrophobic character of the polymer. The project is aimed at developing an efficient laminating process that results in good polymer/glass adhesion that retains the material advantages of the polymer sheet.