What is the impact of different thicknesses of Photovoltaic Module Backsheet Glass on the efficiency and durability of photovoltaic modules?

As the outer protective material of solar panels, the light transmittance of Photovoltaic Module Backsheet Glass is one of the important indicators to measure its performance. The thickness of the glass directly affects its light transmittance. Specifically, too thick backplane glass may reduce the light transmittance of the module, causing more sunlight to be reflected or absorbed in the glass layer instead of penetrating the glass and being absorbed by the solar cell. This will cause the light intensity received by the solar cell to weaken, thereby reducing the efficiency of photovoltaic power generation.
However, if the backplane glass is too thin, although the light transmittance may be better, this may also bring other problems. For example, thin glass may not be able to effectively resist the erosion of external environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays, wind and sand. These factors will cause scratches, cracks or aging on the surface of the glass, which will affect its light transmittance and overall performance. Therefore, when choosing the thickness of the backplane glass, it is necessary to find a balance point to ensure good light transmittance and sufficient mechanical strength and weather resistance.
In addition to light transmittance, the refraction and reflection of light inside the backplane glass are also important factors affecting the efficiency of photovoltaic power generation. When sunlight hits the surface of the backplane glass, part of the light is reflected back, while the other part penetrates the glass and enters the interior of the solar panel. As the thickness of the glass increases, the number of refractions of the light inside the glass will also increase. This may cause the light to be refracted and scattered multiple times inside the glass, thereby reducing the transmission efficiency of the light.
In addition, the increase in glass thickness will also lead to a slight increase in reflectivity. This is because when the light is reflected at the interface between the glass and the air, part of the light is reflected back instead of being absorbed by the solar cell. Therefore, when choosing the thickness of the backplane glass, it is necessary to weigh the relationship between reflectivity and light transmittance to ensure that the module can obtain the best photoelectric conversion efficiency.
The mechanical strength of the backplane glass of the photovoltaic module is one of the important indicators to measure its durability. Thicker backplane glass usually has higher mechanical strength and can better resist the influence of natural forces such as wind, rain, and snow. In harsh outdoor environments, such as strong winds, heavy rain and other extreme weather conditions, thicker backplane glass can better protect the solar panel from damage or deformation caused by external impact. In addition, thicker back glass can also provide better support and stability, helping to ensure that the photovoltaic modules remain flat and stable during long-term use. This helps reduce performance degradation and safety hazards caused by module deformation.
Photovoltaic modules need to have good weather resistance when exposed to outdoor environments for a long time. Thicker back glass can better resist the erosion of environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays, high temperatures, and low temperatures. Ultraviolet rays are one of the main factors that cause the aging and performance degradation of back glass. Thicker back glass can provide better ultraviolet protection and reduce the erosion and damage of ultraviolet rays to the glass surface.
At the same time, thicker back glass can also better adapt to extreme climate conditions such as high and low temperatures. In high temperature environments, thicker back glass can better maintain the temperature inside the module and reduce performance fluctuations caused by temperature changes. In low temperature environments, thicker back glass can better prevent ice or frost inside the module, ensuring that the module can generate electricity normally.
Waterproof and dustproof
Thicker back glass usually has better sealing and waterproof properties. This helps prevent dust, moisture and other debris from entering the module, thereby protecting the solar cells from damage. In outdoor environments, debris such as dust and moisture can easily adhere to the surface of the module or enter the inside of the module. If these debris are not cleaned and handled in time, it may cause the performance of the module to deteriorate or even fail. Therefore, when selecting the thickness of the backplane glass, its waterproof and dustproof performance needs to be considered to ensure the long-term stable operation of the module.