Guardian to showcase new solar glass products at CSP Summit

Global glass manufacturer Guardian Industries will present the newest addition to its line of solar glass products at the third annual Concentrated Solar Power Summit US, June 30-July 1 in San Francisco, according to a June 23 Guardian release. Guardian will feature its EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP, laminated parabolic mirrors for concentrating solar power applications, which provides best-in-class solar reflectivity, concentrating efficiency and durability. Samples of the company’s monolithic parabolic mirrors will also be shown, as well as its float, pattern and coated solar glass products.

More than 450 energy experts from across the United States will meet at the U.S. forum for CSP, on the heels of a similar session last month in the Middle East. The summit provides industry professionals the latest information on regulation, financing, permitting, risk mitigation and transmission, to thermal storage, cost reduction and cutting-edge technologies.

Guardian’s EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP averages more than 94.5 percent solar reflectivity at AM 1.5 (ISO 9050). Similar to a car windshield, two layers of glass are laminated together with a PVB interlayer. A mirrored surface is contained within the laminate on the backside of the forward glass. The thin front glass results in a shorter transmission path and industry benchmark reflectivity performance, according to the release.

The productalso has been field tested for proven durability and validated using accelerated test protocols. The combined glass and PVB layers provide superior rigidity and durability compared to traditional monolithic glass systems. The laminated construction results in optimum damping, wind resistance and reduction of subsequent field component damage.

"As a leading glass manufacturer, our goal is to optimize the energy investment of our customers," said Scott Thomsen, Guardian group vice president and chief technology officer, in the release. "At forums like this, the solar industry players come together to drive technology forward and meet the challenges of achieving new efficiencies.”