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Investing in solar panel installation is key in the race for decarbonization, and China is determined to dominate the production and sale of these panels. Many companies have entered the photovoltaic panel market, leading to a price war that has strained the industry.
Innovation is essential in this competitive landscape. One company has unveiled a new product designed to cover rooftops with flexible solar panels.
Key features. Polyshine Solar, a Shanghai-based company, has long focused on manufacturing lightweight solar panels. At the Smart Energy Week in Tokyo, it showcased its latest flexible panels.
These panels have three defining features: an adhesive layer for quick and easy installation, flexibility to fit various surfaces, and a weight 70% lighter than traditional glass panels.
A “paradigm shift.” While the panel’s weight and bending radius—1.6 feet, according to the company—are notable, its ease of application is what Polyshine Solar calls a “paradigm shift” in the energy transition. The simplified “stick-and-generate” electricity installation process, the company believes, will help democratize access to renewable energy.
Tech specs. The modules come in multiple versions, with power ratings ranging from 505 to 535 watts. With power conversion efficiencies between 19% and 20.1%, the panels measure 88.42 x 46.65 x 0.09 inches and weigh 16.5 pounds.
Polyshine Solar says this combination of weight, flexibility, and ease of installation eliminates “installation barriers for curved surfaces or low-load-bearing structures, requiring zero retrofitting costs.” In addition to the adhesive backing, the panels can also be hung and secured with straps.
Durability and challenges. Polyshine claims its panels will retain at least 84.8% of their output after 25 years. With EVA encapsulation, they are IP68-rated for water and dust resistance and can operate in temperatures ranging from minus 40 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. The company has also used its lightweight panels as acoustic barriers along city streets, withstanding vehicle vibrations for years.
However, achieving weight reduction presents challenges. The company acknowledges that reducing weight often conflicts with maintaining efficiency. Each 0.1% improvement in lightness and flexibility is difficult because it can impact energy production. To address this, Polyshine has focused on highly transparent materials, resulting in modules that generate 2% more energy than similar products under the same conditions.
The company doesn’t specify which products it compares, but it notes that while a 2% gain may seem minor, installing 10,763 square feet of these panels would yield an additional 5,000 kilowatt-hours per year. Beyond corporate claims, this innovation signals a broader industry shift: improving energy efficiency while optimizing weight and installation to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy.
Image | Polyshine Solar (Linkedin)
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