How Does Backsheet Quality Impact Modern Solar PV Modules?

India has been revolutionising its power needs by switching to solar. With a goal to attain 500GW of renewable energy installed capacity by 2023, our nation has been making comprehensive efforts to shift towards green energy. As we are actively pivoting towards carbon-free energy consumption, the whole world is taking a dive into this wave of change. There are many inventions that have contributed immensely to helping us set new targets for renewable energy and solar panels are one of them.

A solar panel is a widely understood and implemented solution to capture natural energy and convert it into consumable electrical energy. Additionally, it is not just healthy for the environment but it also keeps your bills in shape. This combination of ecology and economy-friendly solutions make solar panels an ideal choice for corporates as well as households. Moreover, the climatic conditions of our nation are ideal to charge the optimum output of solar panels.

Speaking of optimum output, do your solar panels provide the output they are built for? You would have hardly even checked, but there are many environmental factors that can affect the energy output of your solar panel. So, what should you do to protect your panels?

Simple, get a perfect 360° protection for your panels. That is a solar panel frame, a solar encapsulant, a solar backsheet and a solar glass. But before you jump into it, it is important for you to know the impact of not choosing quality solutions for your panels.

In this article, we will discuss about the advantages of a quality backsheet and the disadvantages of not choosing one. But first, we should understand

What are Solar Backsheets made from?

The backsheet consists of a triple-layer laminate, with numerous options available in the market, ranging from fundamental protective layers such as fluoride-based polymers, polyesters, polyamides, polypropylene, and others, to varying thicknesses or layer combinations. A protection layer made with PET, PVDF, and PVF are the best type of solar backsheets.

The photovoltaic backsheet material selected for your solar panel will significantly influence its ability to endure environmental factors and its performance throughout its lifespan.

Poor Backsheet Quality and its Impacts on PV Modules

Repair Needs

Assembling your solar panels with a poor-quality solar backsheet is like making an investment in loss. A poor quality backsheet will incline towards constant repair needs and change of components. This constant need for repair and changes brings you to par with the savings you make on energy with solar panels. Moreover, repairing your solar panels over and over again reduces the structural strength resulting in reduced solar output and hassles of repetitive repairs.

PV Failures

A solar backsheet is the last line of defence for a photovoltaic module. They are adhered to the rear side of the solar panels. Its fundamental property is to shield the most delicate components of the PV module from UV rays, humidity, wind, dirt, sand, and multiple mechanical and weather influences. If the chosen backsheet is unable to fulfil these fundamentals it declines the production output initially or gradually and can also cause failure of the solar PV module. A design defect, manufacturing faults, or poor-quality material used in backsheet production results in such circumstances.

Poor Performance of PVs

Solar backsheets were designed to protect your panels and assure consistency in performance with optimal output. To perform the duty of protection with perfection a backsheet needs to be composed of three essential characteristics:

Resistance to Weather
Mechanical Robustness
Exceptional Adhesion

If these characteristics are met in the production of the solar backsheet it will be sustained throughout the module’s operational lifespan. An absence of all these characteristics results in their lack of ability to offer lasting durability, leading to suboptimal photovoltaic modules and reduced power production.

But, what if you choose the right backsheets after reading this blog?

The outcome will be

Advantages of High-Quality Backsheet

Evenness of photovoltaic backsheet materials

A thoroughly researched and designed solar backsheet provides even protection to every cell of the PV module. An evenly spread protection layer does not leave any loose ends for weather and other factors to ingress and damage your solar panels.

Exceptional Adhesion

A quality solar backsheet will stick with your solar panels through every weather and challenge. This strong bond between the PV modules and the backsheet creates a wall that blocks the declination of solar panels’ performance.

Enhanced Output

One of the primary functions of solar panel backsheets is to prevent the solar panels from getting overheated. They act as an insulator and block high-energy photons from reaching the PV cells resulting in enhanced energy output by reducing thermal stress.

Outstanding Protection

From extreme UV radiation, preventing infiltration of water and dust, and reducing thermal stress, to protecting the panels from varying environments, quality solar backsheets provide outstanding protection.

Resistance to Reaction

Quality solar backsheets play a crucial role in protecting solar panels from an array of damages. They perform these functions by absorbing every harm that occurs to solar panels. The material from which they are composed is designed to resist every reaction that results in damage. Thus, creating an absolute safeguarded layer of protection.

Conclusion

Solar backsheet failure can result in disastrous panel malfunctions, substantial power reduction, and extreme safety risks. Therefore, it is vital to choose manufacturers who prioritize quality and adhere to strict quality control measures during the backsheet manufacturing process.

If you want a longer lifespan for your solar panel, use high-quality backsheets provided by leading and reliable backsheet manufacturers like Vishakha Renewables, who have experience in producing high-quality and durable backsheets for solar PVs as per the latest IEC norms. Vishakha backsheets are extensively tested for IEC 62788, IEC 60112 and IEC 61730.

Vishakha Renewables has been producing backsheets that safeguard solar panels in various weather conditions for numerous years. These backsheets have successfully defended millions of solar panels in diverse locations. With a proven track record, they have shown essential, extended panel lifespan, ensuring the system’s protection and facilitating long-lasting returns.