Singapore-based Maxeon Solar Technologies says it has found a new way to install photovoltaic panels on the roofs of commercial buildings. The company creates frameless, thin and light solar panels that can be "glued" directly to the roof, enabling buildings that cannot support traditional installations to be fitted with photovoltaic cells.
"The Maxeon Air technology platform continues our 35-year tradition of solar panel technology innovation and once again demonstrates our r&d team's ability to develop cutting-edge, disruptive technologies," said Jeff Waters, CEO of Maxeon.
"For nearly 50 years, the solar industry has been built almost entirely on glass laminated panels. As the size of solar panels has increased and the cost of solar cells has dropped dramatically, the cost of transporting, installing and installing large glass panels has become a relatively large part of the total cost of the system. With Maxeon Air, we can now develop these relatively low-cost products while opening up new market opportunities, such as low-load commercial roofing." "He added.
The Maxeon Air panels are called "strip-and-paste" solutions and have an integrated adhesive layer on the back that allows them to be installed directly on the roofs of commercial buildings without the need for aluminum frames, brackets, anchors or ballasts. They are also designed to work on uneven roof surfaces.
Each panel is made up of a number of IBC solar cells, which have a metal base and stress-relieving battery connections. They are corrosion resistant and can bend without cracking. The overall conversion efficiency of the panels is said to be 20.9 percent, and negative resistance has been incorporated into the design.
"Maxeon's IBC (Cross finger Back Contact) module technology has the unique ability to pass an electric current in shadow to continue generating power even when other panels are closed," Waters explained. This feature, combined with inherent low temperature sensitivity, ensures industry-leading performance under all conditions."
The company says its installed weight is less than half that of conventional solar panels, at about 6 kg/m2, so they are ideal for installing on roofs that are not designed to support the weight of traditional solar systems. Maxeon estimates that the untapped potential of low-load commercial roofs in Europe alone could exceed 4 gigawatts. But the company is also looking at residential rooftops, floating solar farms and potential uses for electric cars.
After five years of development, the Maxeon Air technology will make its public debut in July, followed by installation in several selected projects in Europe in the second half of this year, with a full market debut expected in the first quarter of 2022.