Vitex and Batelle Commit to Research on Solar Panel Encapsulation with Barix Barrier Film™
I have read several articles on this announcement and they were all disappointing. Many made it sound as though this was a product release. Unfortunately it is not. Vitex Systems and Batelle have announced a research program aimed at developing some type of building-integrated photo voltaic panel (BIPV), but nothing more has been announced. Researchers hope to use the Barix™ Encapsulation process, which is currently used in flat panel displays, to enclose flexible solar panels. The Barix Barrier Film™ will need to be formulated to resist ultraviolet radiation and weather. It may also need to be modified to remain stable while in contact with Copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS), Cadmium telluride (CdTe), or Cadmium Sulfide (CdS), which are the typical materials found in solar cells.
According to the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the agreement will focus on developing a product for roof-top applications with a lifetime of 25 years. The encapsulated panels will likely be mounted to a substrate material which could be mechanically attached to the roof sheathing. This is not the first solar shingle announcement I have seen float across my computer screen, but maybe in a few years this will work out to be a great product!
You’re currently reading “Vitex and Batelle Commit to Research on Solar Panel Encapsulation with Barix Barrier Film™”, an entry on Griffin Contracting – Construction Blog
- Published:
- 06.22.09 / 12am
- Category:
- Design-ED.
- Tags:
- Environmental Conciousness, Panel, roof, Ryan Griffin, shingle, Solar
