Photovoltaics - E-nov' Mag Edition #2 - Innovation by Arkema

Spotlight on Photovoltaics - E-nov' Mag Edition #2 - Innovation by Arkema

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PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ENERGY, TOMORROW'S ELECTRICITY Used for many years for thermal purposes, solar energy is now seeing a major expansion through its photovoltaic application.
PHOTOVOLTAICS: ARKEMA'S OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH Arkema's researches work to improve the performance of polymers designed for the photovoltaic industry.
KYNAR® AND EVATANE®: 2 INNOVATIVE BRANDS FOR THE PHOTOVOLTAIC INDUSTRY The components of a solar panel must deliver exceptional performance over the long term. Arkema has met this challenge with its Evatane® and Kynar® brands.
KYNAR® FILM'S PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS Kynar® film is a multilayer film based on PVDF resins. It is used to make the back sheet of photovoltaic panels and serves to protect them from humidity.
PMMA: THE FUTURE OF PHOTOVOLTAICS ? Altuglas International is the world leader in PMMA.

PHOTOVOLTAICS: SPOTLIGHT ON R&D AT ARKEMA

Arkema entered the photovoltaic market in 2001 when the company began offering polymers that are ideally suited for use in photovoltaic solar panels.

Certain Arkema polymers lend themselves to promising applications in this sector.

Evatane® resins can be used to encapsulate the silicon of photovoltaic cells, while Kynar® film is used for the insulating back sheets of the panels.

Arkema’s dynamic R&D policy lies behind drives the development of these products.

The goal?

The goal is to provide companies in the photovoltaic sector with reliable, rapid, easy-to-use solutions that enable them reduce manufacturing costs and improve the performance of their photovoltaic panels.

E-nov' Mag #2: Spotlight on Photovoltaic Energy

KEY FIGURES

40 GW: worldwide photovoltaic installed capacity at the end of 2010
25 to 30 years, or more: operational lifespan of a photovoltaic solar panel, while maintaining optimal efficiency
more than 200%: expansion of the photovoltaic market in France in 2010
€ 0.46: maximum feed-in tariff for photovoltaic energy in France

A PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANEL

Function: to transform solar light into electricity.

Principle: a sandwich assembly of photovoltaic cells whichcells that generates an electric current when exposed to light.

Protection: the cells must be "encapsulated" to protect them from exposure to UV radiation and the elements. They are sandwiched between a transparent cover material, either glass or plastic, and a protective back sheet, usually a plastic film. Together, these elements constitute the panel.

Requirements: the encapsulating material must provide optimal, long-lasting transparency that resists solar irradiation while protecting the cells from humidity, oxygen and temperature variations.

Link to E-nov'TV, the Innovation TV by Arkema

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