Have you ever stopped to wonder what solar panels are made from? For instance, what is solar panel glass made of? If you guessed that they are made from tempered glass and not the regular glass from your windows, then you guessed right.
Solar has grown by a rate of 33% per year in the last decade. The bulk of this growth has been in conventional photovoltaic solar technologies with a focus on improving the efficiency of solar cells and bringing the costs down. This has led to better, cheaper solar panels on the market.
In this article, we will explore some of the major components of a solar panel. Are solar panels glass or plastic? We will also explore how solar glass is made. Finally, we will look at the types of solar panel frames and what they are made of.
Are Solar Panels Glass or Plastic?
Solar panels can be made from either glass or plastic. There are several pros and cons to each. Glass is, however, the preferred material from which solar panels are made primarily because it is much stronger than plastic.
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While both glass and plastic are used to manufacture solar panels, the materials are different in terms of their qualities, strengths, and performance.
Glass solar panels
Glass solar panels are stronger and can stand up to harsh weather much better than plastic solar panels. During its lifespan, a solar panel is exposed to extreme heat and cold, hailstorms, and heavy rain, all of which can damage the panel. Glass is more durable in the face of those conditions the solar panels operate in.
Glass solar panels are more efficient than plastic solar panels. Glass is a good transmitter of light as it does not absorb any of the light it is exposed to. Glass, therefore, allows more sunlight to reach the solar cells than plastic. The ability to absorb more light gives glass solar panels a higher energy output than plastic.
The glass-on-glass construction used in glass solar panels also makes them more waterproof and dust resistant than plastic. Glass is much easier to clean. Dirt does not stick as easily to glass and rainwater can wash off the dirt relatively easily compared to plastic.
Glass takes up the most weight in a solar panel. Crystalline solar panels use 3mm thick glass which makes up to 67% of the weight. In a thin-film solar panel, this can be as much as 96%!
Glass is much more recyclable than plastic and does not have toxic chemicals like polyvinyl chloride you find in plastic.
Plastic solar panels
Plastic solar panels are lighter, cheaper, and easier to install than glass solar panels. Plastic solar panels are half the weight of glass solar panels. This is what makes them easier to install especially for rooftop installations. Glass solar panels typically weigh around 40 pounds.
Plastic is also a much cheaper material than glass. This is what makes plastic solar panels cheaper than solar panels made from glass. (Source)
Should you choose glass or plastic? It depends on your needs. If you want solar panels that are very efficient and durable then you want to go with solar panels made with glass. If you want a simple, cost-effective solution, then you want to go with plastic solar panels instead.
Also, find out Which Metal Is Used For Interconnection Of Solar Cells In Solar Panels?
Are Solar Panels Tempered Glass?
Solar panels from Tier 1 manufacturers use tempered glass. Most solar panels are made with tempered soda-lime glass that has been treated to make it stronger. The tempered glass used is about six times stronger than ordinary plate glass and is there to protect the solar cells in the panel.
Cheaper brands of solar panels sometimes use flat plate glass. While this brings down the cost of the solar panel, it also makes for a weaker, less durable solar panel. Flat plate glass can cloud or film over as the solar panel ages. This reduces how much sunlight makes it through to the solar cells and reduces the solar panel’s output. (Source)
Solar panel manufacturers will usually print the type of glass used on the back of the solar panel. To avoid solar panels with plate glass you can check the specifications to see what type of glass is used.
Also, check out our post on “Can A Golf Ball Break A Solar Panel? What Can Crack it !“
How Is Solar Glass Made?
Tempered glass is annealed glass that has been heated to 620°C and then cooled by airflow. It is this process that makes the glass stronger and allows it to break into smaller pieces which reduces the risk of injury from large shards of glass.
The resulting strength from the glass is what makes the solar panels sturdier and more resistant to wind force. Flat glass which is still produced for solar, can be made using either rolled glass, float glass, or drawn glass methods.
Drawn glass is being phased out and replaced by float glass. The latter is used in 90% of solar panel glass because it is the cheapest to produce on a large scale.
Pattern glass is mostly used for crystalline solar panels because it has the highest transmission, at over 91%, of sunlight.
What Are Solar Panel Frames Made Of?
Solar panel frames are made of metal, typically aluminum. The aluminum frame protects the solar panel components from damage. The frame of a solar panel makes it easier to handle, store and fix them in place. It also makes them more wind resistant. The frames can be either anodized or powder-coated aluminum.
Anodized aluminum
An anodized aluminum frame’s biggest advantage is that it reflects more heat. High temperature in a solar panel reduces the solar energy output. Reflecting heat improves the overall efficiency of the solar panel. These are the most commonly used frames for solar panels.
Anodized aluminum frames are also easier to clean and scratch-resistant. Their biggest drawback is that they only come in a silver color compared to powder-coated aluminum frames which also come in black. This makes them less aesthetically appealing.
Powder-coated aluminum frames
Powder coating aluminum frames allows you to have different colors. This allows you to match them with their surrounding environment thus creating a more appealing aesthetic finish compared to anodized solar panels.
The main drawback to powder-coated aluminum frames is they are more prone to scratching.