What different types of photovoltaic modules exist and which ones are suitable for BIPV installations ?
There are differing types of photovoltaic modules in the market, but not all of them are suitable for BIPV installation. The well-known standard PV-modules are composed of a thin exterior glass and a plastic (called tedlar) on the reverse side. These modules are optimised to produce the maximum energy per square metre at the lowest cost. They are primarily used where the single objective is energy generation. These modules can be modified using a translucent tedlar on the inner leaf to create limited light transmission. However the “glass-tedlar” modules are not suitable for BIPV installations due to their low strength and impact resistance. The glass-glass PV modules consist of a laminate of two panes of glass. These PV modules offer important advantages in terms of safety, transparency and aesthetics are therefore the glass-glass PV-modules are used for BIPV. In the production of glass-glass PV-modules differing materials can be used to laminate the glass (called encapsulants): EVA o
