PPG advances performance of Solarphire AR/2XAR

Officials at PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, announced improvements in the performance of Solarphire AR anti-reflective and 2XAR two-sided, anti-reflective glasses, which can now achieve solar transmittance of up to 96.3 percent in the visible and near-infrared bands of the solar spectrum, according to an April 4 release. Increased solar transmittance can enhance the performance of photovoltaic components by enabling them to collect and concentrate solar energy more efficiently.

Solarphire AR glass, manufactured with PPG’s highly durable proprietary anti-reflective coating on one surface of a Solarphire PV photovoltaic glass substrate, has solar transmittance of 93.6 percent in a 3.2 millimeter thickness. Manufacturers of crystalline-silicon modules that replaced their units’ cover plates with Solarphire AR glass reported typical power output increases of up to seven watts.

Solarphire 2XAR glass features PPG’s anti-reflective coating on both sides of a Solarphire PV glass substrate. With solar transmittance of 96.3 percent, double-coated Solarphire 2XAR glass may help even more than Solarphire AR glass to make concentrated solar photovoltaic modules more efficient.

To achieve their best performance, Solarphire AR and 2XAR glasses should be heat-strengthened or tempered. Stock sheets are available in sizes up to 72 by 90 inches and can be cut and heat-treated by glass fabricators. Solarphire AR and 2XAR glasses are available in thicknesses of 2.5, 3.2, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 millimeters.