Feature:
Solar glass
BIPV glass as a key technology for zero-energy houses, roll vapour-depositing or roll pressing. In autumn,
which due to new building guidelines in the USA and
the East German plant and machinery manufacturer
Europe, will become the standard in future.
3D-Micromac will supply the first solar energy
producer with machines for the roll-to-roll processing
The photovoltaics industry is already preparing itself of thin layers. “Flexible, cost-effectively produced
for the technological challenges. Companies such as
photovoltaics could become a major trend”, explains 3D
Heliatek or Belectric OPV can now create completely
expert Thomas Kießling.
transparent solar films which can function as invisible
power plants. In addition to the manufacturers of
In order to successfully move BIPV forward, the
organic photovoltaics, an increasing number of
glass and photovoltaics industry must however
thin-layer module producers are also developing
work together more closely in future. Which solar
photovoltaic films. For example Miasolé from
cells are suitable, who integrates the solar films in
California, subsidiary of the Chinese Hanergy group,
the construction glass, what could the cost of all this
is using photoactive copper films to now reach an
be? “There are still many open questions”, says Timo
efficiency level of over 14 percent – almost as much as Feuerbach, speaker from the Glass Technology Forum
what is possible with conventional silicon modules.
within the German Engineering Federation (VDMA). At
the glasstec “Solar meets Glass” Congress from 20 – 21
With the trend towards solar film, new production
October 2014, the sectors will have the opportunity to
methods are also becoming the focus of attention.
pave the way for cooperations – and thus bring the City