Anti-Reflective Coating Makes Solar Panels More Efficient

Written by Sabrina Deparine

Wednesday, 03 March 2010 09:58

Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 March 2010 10:09

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Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation will be distributing the anti-reflective coating solution for solar modules produced by XeroCoat Inc. in Japan and China.

The anti-reflective coating solution was first discovered by Michael Harvey in 2003 when he accidentally spilled some chemicals on his table’s glass surface. He noticed that the glass became perfectly clear and non-reflecting. Harvey sough the assistance of his supervisor, Paul Meredith to formulate a coating solution that reduces light reflection. Harvey and Meredith were granted funds by the Australian government for their research. They went on to form XeroCoat in 2005.

XeroCoat’s latest anti-reflection coating solution reduces the light reflection of solar modules from 1% to 4%. It also helps in enhancing the modules’ light energy absorption as well as their capability to convert light to energy.

Most critics cite the costs of utilizing solar energy as its major drawback. This is partly true because a normal or regular solar panel can only convert 20% of the absorbed light to electricity. Hence, the capacity of solar modules to convert absorbed light to energy is one of the stumbling blocks to the full-scale adoption of solar energy as a renewable energy source.

XeroCoat’s anti-reflection coating solution addresses these concerns. It improves the transmission of light so that the solar modules become a more efficient energy source. Technically, the silica contents of the anti-reflection coating solution bond chemically with the glass surface. It can increase the power output of solar panels by 3%. Energy production of the panels likewise increases by as much as 4% on a kilowatt-hour basis.

XeroCoat’s anti-reflection coating solution may be used in all types of solar power technologies such as crystalline silicon, thin-film and concentrating photovoltaics and other solar thermal devices.