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24 DesIGnInG WItH PoLYMeRs Built by the Venturi company in 2007, the car with integrated solar roof made of SUNOVATION® modules can be marveled at in Monaco. The monocrystalline solar cells supply maximum power of 150 Wp elements35 Issue 2|2011 333 The gel not only holds the solar cells in place but plays a central role in the forces that occur during forming. It consists of several components, and can be adapted to the shearing forces that occur during forming through formula modification—depending on how strong the sheets should be and whether the carrier is designed to be solid or hollow. The forces are evenly distributed over the gel, which transfers the mechanical load to the cells. Both crystalline and amorphous silicon is used for the solar cells, but thinfilm and dye cells are also possible. The first PLEXIGLAS® roofs with integrated solar cells by Sunovation were installed more than thirteen years ago. But back then, photovoltaics was still not a generally accepted form of renewable power generation. The only people interested in using PV modules were committed environmentalists and a few trailblazers. Since then, the times have changed dramatically. An increasing number of architects and developers have now gone in for “green building”—the idea of building private and public buildings as sustainably and ecologically as possible. A vital component of green building is recyclable modern construction materials and environmentally and climate-friendly energy supply. This also applies to energy-efficient renovation and modernization of existing buildings, which plays an important role in the energy concept of the German federal government. In green building, lightweight modules not only generate energy, but play additional roles: they pro- The latest version of PLEXIGLAS® Solar (0Z023) is even better adapted to the absorption spectrum of solar cells. It blocks sunlight below 350 nanometers, which damages the solar cells and cannot be converted into electricity anyway. At a wavelength of 350 to 400 nanometers, however, it allows more high-energy photons to pass through than other transparent plastics, thereby increasing the electricity yield of the solar module Transmission [%] 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 vide roofing, thermal insulation and sound insulation, and create shade. To put it another way, why produce expensive roofs or façades that you have to equip with modules and thermal protection systems when all of your key requirements can be met with multi-functional solar modules? High potential in the automotive industry A revolution similar to that in the construction industry can be observed right now in the automotive industry. The vehicles of the future are no longer being developed and marketed based solely on technical and aesthetic criteria. To reduce traffic emissions and allow the industry to meet its climate obligations, the fleet of the future will have to consist of ultra-light and eco-friendly (electric) vehicles. A higher plastic content and regenerative energy supply will be key features. Because the components have to meet the high standards of safety, durability, and quality exacted by mobile applications, the use of photovoltaics in vehicles poses a special challenge. Several renowned automakers are currently experimenting with solaractive roofs. Integrative plastic-based PV solutions have already been realized multiple times in concept cars. But electromobility covers far more than just the vehicle alone. Eco-friendly driving also goes handin-hand with today’s charging stations. Together with PLEXIGLAS® Solar 0Z023/PLEXIGLAS® Solar IM20—3mm UV blocking standard PMMA grade—3mm III-V cell spectral response 0 250 300 350 400 450 500 Wavelength [nm]
its partners, Sunovation has developed the SUNOVA- TION ECO TECHNICS carport, a carport with integrated LED lighting that generates emissions-free electricity, thanks to curved PLEXIGLAS® modules that are a part of the roof. With a total surface measuring approximately eight square meters, the modules have maximum power of over 1 kWp. Compared to glass-glass modules, PLEXIGLAS® leads to weight savings of over 60 percent and allows delicate, aesthetically pleasing construction. A prototype of the carport has begun operation in May 2011 on the grounds of Evonik in Darmstadt. With Solar Carport, Sunovation and its roughly 20 employees are planning to take the plunge into mass-production. There is every reason to believe the carport will be a success. Its modular construction makes it easily expandable for large-scale applications, and installing it is incredibly simple. It can be set up on any even, stable substrate without a foundation and without a construction permit. Sunovation will even take back used solar modules and recycle them. As these examples show, efficient products and systems tailored to a specific application are possible only through close cooperation between customers and material manufacturers. Evonik and Sunovation are currently studying the effect of various plastics on the performance of solar cells. For this purpose, nine modules are being measured and compared for their endurance on a test bench under real outdoor weathering conditions. The plastics used in the panels include conventional PLEXIGLAS®, polycarbonate, and PLEXIGLAS® Solar, which is optimized for modules. The latter is a newly developed PMMA that shows improved transmission in the short-wave UV range. It allows high-energy radiation of between 350 and 380 nanometers to pass through far better than other plastics. Consequently, more high-energy photons reach the solar cells and can be converted into electricity. Low weight, optimal transmission, and high UV- and weather resistance are the main reasons why PLEXIGLAS® Solar was used as the cover sheet for the world‘s largest lightweight design module, which Evonik presented at the K trade fair for plastics in the fall of 2010. The module is 1.58 meters wide, four meters long, and weighs only 80 kilograms. In the future, renewable power generation could become as commonplace as today‘s coal- and gas-fired power plants. Cars would be refueled with climatefriendly green electricity, buildings would be designed with power- and heat-generating façades and roofs, and in cities, emissions-free public transport would be the norm. But visions of this kind can become a reality only if high-tech and design are intelligently combined, that is, when material and function interact closely with one another. For this to happen, materials manufacturers, developers and customers along the entire value-added chain must cooperate and promote innovations together. Freely formable PLEXIGLAS® based solar modules are opening up a highly promising but challenging new field of application. The modules have to do more than just generate power efficiently and reliab ly. They must also fulfill the aesthetic expectations of architects, developers and customers, and as hightech products, withstand the influences of wind and weather over many years. The partnership between Evonik and Sunovation is one example of how to leverage the potential of advanced materials both economically and ecologically, while simultaneously meeting the demands of aesthetics, performance and sustainability. 777 DesIGnInG WItH PoLYMeRs 25 Peter Battenhausen, business development manager for the Acrylic Polymers Business Line, works primarily with solar applications for PLEXIGLAS®. +49 6151 18-4519 peter.battenhausen@ evonik.com Markus Krall is founder and shareholder of Sunovation GmbH. In 1997, Krall developed the current SUNOVATION® module in cooperation with Evonik Röhm GmbH based on a feasibility study. +49 60 22 70 99-13 mk@sunovation.de uwe Löffler is responsible for the International Market Segment Solar in Evonik’s Acrylic Polymers Business Line. +49 6151 18-3010 uwe.loeffler@evonik.com Andreas Wöll is general manager of Sunovation GmbH and has extensive experience in photovoltaics and solar thermal technology. He is primarily responsible for the rebuilding of the company, further development of Sunovation technology, and the development of a more efficient and powerful production process. +49 6151 18-3010 aw@sunovation.de elements35 Issue 2|2011
Page 1 and 2: elements35 Quarterly Science Newsle
Page 3 and 4: All set for the future If your car
Page 5 and 6: Fiscal year 2010: the best result s
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Page 17 and 18: Almost 5,000 km across Australia Pi
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Page 23: The façade of the Photovoltaics In
Page 27 and 28: foR YeARs, It was impossible to ima
Page 29 and 30: 333 particularly since the situatio
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