Solar film could be the flexible and scalable future of solar power

The need for sustainable energy has led to the development of solar film as an alternative to conventional solar panels. These innovative technologies are rapidly growing throughout Europe and has companies such as Heliatek (Germany) in addition to Solar Cloth (France) at the forefront of. Contrary to traditional solar panels solar film offers a degree of adaptability and flexibility which was not previously possible and represents a major advancement in technology for solar.

Heliatek's HeliaSol and HeliaFilm

Heliatek is an German brand that was established in the year 2017 introduced HeliaSol a thin, flexible solar film that resembles the appearance of a sticker. It is simple to set up and suitable to be used on a variety of surface types, including school buildings as well as wind turbines. It has the capacity to generate as much as 85 watts for every square meter. It also boasts the most small carbon footprint at less than 10 grams CO2e/kWh.

HeliaSol employs organic photovoltaics (OPV) technology in which sunlight is converted to electric energy by semiconducting materials. The overall layer of organic material is less than one millimeter in size, which is the reason for HeliaSol's distinctive features.

After HeliaSol, Heliatek also released HeliaFilm it is a stick-on roll of film that is able to stick to various surfaces such as concrete, glass, or metal. Heliatek is looking at innovative ways to use HeliaFilm specifically with glass, through exploring the color and transparency of. HeliaFilm could change the way glass is used by adding solar functions, thus aiding in energy generation as well as the reflection of heat into the construction industry.

The solar film M170 from Solar Cloth

Solar Cloth, a French firm, has designed the M170 solar-absorbing film which is a 0.5mm thick material that can produce 170 watts for every square millimeter. The M170 utilizes CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium and Selenium) technology that is known for its effectiveness and recycling of materials. This has allowed Solar Cloth to achieve a 17.2 percentage yield for an unrolled textile base which is a major advancement in photovoltaic materials. The M170's ability to adapt to different types of surfaces, such as round ones, make it an ideal solution for numerous application.

Efficient and sustainable in the environment

Solar films offer a cleaner alternative to conventional solar solutions. HeliaSol For instance, it is a lot greener than standard silicon-based solar panels, and has the carbon footprint being under 10 g of CO2e/kilowatt-hour. It is a better option for sustainability compared to fossil fuels like coal. Organic substances and recycled materials for solar film further improves their ecological credentials.

Installation and application

Installation is simple and easy to install an important benefit of solar film. HeliaSol can, for example, can be fitted to many substances, such as concrete, steel, as well as glass, with just three easy steps. The backside adhesive is integrated, and a junction box equipped with cables facilitate the procedure of installing, and is completed in just less than an hour. Installation is simple, together with the film's ability to be flexible, offers a myriad of opportunities for retrofitting buildings as well as installing solar systems into buildings in which traditional solar panels are not practical.

Future and possible developments

Untapped possibilities for the generation of solar energy using solar films is huge. The surfaces that were previously inaccessible to solar panels, like constructions with weak static load-bearing capacity, curving surfaces or other materials that cannot be damaged, could now be used to generate energy. Heliatek hopes to convert any building into a net-zero energy structure that is powered through renewable energy sources.

The future for solar films will also bring further advances in the integration of glass. With a multitude of windows that are installed each year across the world The potential for integrating solar-powered glass into products is enormous. The integration does not just generate energy but also helps reduce the buildup of heat in buildings providing a versatile solution.

Pricing information

At present, pricing details available for HeliaSol, HeliaFilm, and M170's solar film are not available to the public. The costs of these new solar products will likely be contingent on the magnitude of the installation as well as the requirements specific to the proposed project. Potential customers are advised to reach out to the companies for more detailed information on pricing according to their specific requirements.

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