Transparent Tedlar® Frontsheet for Lightweight PV Module Designs

The weight of conventional photovoltaic (PV) solar panels is a significant challenge in applications that can benefit from the integration of this renewable energy source, but are sensitive to increased weight loads. Numerous commercial buildings and auxiliary structures are designed with little to no spare structural capacity. Vehicle fuel efficiency is directly tied to the total vehicle weight. Lightweight modules can address this challenge by reducing weight, enabling PV elements to be installed or retrofitted at low cost for parking roofs, in building structures (Building Integrated PV or BIPV), and in vehicles (Vehicle Integrated PV VIPV). The main challenge in acheiving lightweight PV modules is replacing the glass frontsheet while maintaining transparency, mechanical stability and weatherability over the lifetime of the module. Transparent Tedlar® PVF films have been used for decades in protecting graphics and signage and photovoltaic backsheets. Building on years of successful field performance, a new transparent Tedlar® TFS15BM3 film has been designed to provide a high level of outdoor UV stability and protection, offering a significantly lighter technologically advanced alternative to traditional glass. In this paper, we present the performance of this film as a protective frontsheet of solar modules. The unique balance of durability, UV resistance, high level of light transmittance, lasting UV protection, mechanical toughness, chemical resistance, good adhesion to encapsulant, easy cleaning, light weight and flexibility makes this an attractive alternative to traditional glass in applications necessitating lightweight.