Solar panels now have a cream that can heal their “wounds”

Solar power is on the rise in Europe. It reduces the carbon footprint, the costs have decreased by 82% over the last decade, and to top it off the average lifespan of solar panels is a whopping 25 years. There is a caveat though, some need to undergo maintenance to last that long.

Solar panels are generally made up of solar cells, a metal frame, glass sheet, standard 12V wire, and bus wire. This metal frame is what protects the panel against inclement weather conditions or otherwise dangerous scenarios, and to help mount the solar panel at the desired angle. Some types of these backsheets are known to develop cracks during operation in the field, which result in a loss of insulation resistance. Replacing these backsheets is not an ideal solution, given the costs involved, the potential lack of compatibility of new backsheets with an older system, and lack of guarantee that they won’t simply crack again.

Silicones can provide an answer. An alternative approach to replacing panels with a failing backsheet is to repair them. Silicone materials are already used in solar panels for sealing the frames and bonding purposes. Dow has now developed a silicone sealant which consists of a filler and polymer that can “cure” the backsheet when it comes in contact with air. The fact that it is flowable rather than a paste, means the “cure” is sufficiently liquid to enable easy coating yet viscous enough to enable crack-filling and barrier coating of backsheets that are at an angle, facing downward.

In short, silicone solutions engineered with chemistry are making repair and maintenance for solar panels a whole lot easier, extending their life under the sun.