Polar star

Photovoltaic panels with a polysiloxane gel encapsulant for extreme climate conditions. Designed  for cold artic areas with temperature down to -60 °C and hot desert areas with temperature up to 100°C

The main reason for failures of standard modules with EVA encapsulant in areas with low temperatures (below –30 °C) are cracks of solar cells  and delamination of the EVA film.

The increased rigidity, i.e. reduced ability of the material to compensate the external loads by mobility of fragments of the polymer macromolecules is associated with the phase transition (vitrification) of the EVA polymer at temperature range from –15 °C (red line) to -40 °C. At low temperatures the high modulus (hard) encapsulating material fully conveys the external mechanical load to the fragile solar cells, which lose the mechanical protection.
Furthermore, the low temperature deteriorates adhesion properties of the EVA. It results in delamination of the EVA film from the glass as well as from the rear TPM protective cover. These results were published by experienced researchers in the United States (NREL), Germany (Fraunhofer Institute) and Russia.

In contrast to EVA, the new encapsulating material based on a low modulus polysiloxanes retain their mechanical, adhesion, optical and dielectric properties in a temperature range from minus –60 °C to + 200 °C.

Specifications

Data at Standard Test Condition (T=25 ℃ AM=1.5 E=1000W/m²)