AGC's technology used also for solar batteries, which converts solar rays into electricity
Power generation through solar batteries, which utilize solar rays, is widely known as a clean energy. In Japan, an increasing number of homes have been equipped with photovoltaic power generation systems, and Japan has the largest power generation through solar batteries in the world. Solar batteries are used for the systems, and our technology is also adopted for photovoltaic cover glass.
High optical transmittance and low reflection essential for photovoltaic cover glass
General solar batteries use a semiconductor (silicon) that generates electricity when it is hit by solar radiation.
Solar batteries for residential use are installed on roofs where solar rays can be collected more than any other places,
so they are naturally exposed to wind and rain. Weather sometimes includes hail, or flying dust, sand or small stones.
Because of this, solar batteries are mostly covered by photovoltaic cover glass in order to protect the silicon.
For photovoltaic power generation, a large amount of solar rays must be collected through silicon, so photovoltaic cover
glass needs to have high optical transmittance and low reflection. With our long-established expertise and technological
capabilities, we offer photovoltaic cover glass that satisfies the needs of solar battery manufacturers.
Photovoltaic cover glass having high optical transmittance
The AGC Group has been closely involved with solar batteries over a long period of time
"Solite", a material used for AGC's photovoltaic cover glass, is the product of AGC Flat Glass North America, Inc., U.S.A., one of the group's affiliated companies. Its development and manufacture started back in the 1970s. "Solite"
was commercialized early, when solar batteries were not generally put into practical use. "Solite" has been contributing
to, and leading the solar battery market with its extensive performance and high technology.
Photovoltaic cover glass is template glass in a satin-like finish with unlevel surfaces. Highly clear opaque glass whose
component fraction of iron is less than that of ordinary windowpanes is used to improve its light transmission. In addition,
because solar battery silicon must be protected, special heat-treated glass is used.
We manufacture extremely high-quality, highly-specified photovoltaic cover glass with the use of a dedicated furnace, completely
different from template glass for general construction materials.
"Solite", photovoltaic cover glass
Responding to the expected future increasing demand for solar batteries
Solar batteries have been further evolving, and research and development have been continuously conducted in order to enhance power generation efficiency with a smaller amount of silicon. Because environmental protection on a global scale is being emphasized, it is expected that the demand for solar batteries will increase substantially not only in Japan, but also in Europe, the U.S., and China. So the AGC Group's technical capabilities will be increasingly needed. We assess market needs and conditions, and have been continuously enhancing our capabilities through repeated research and development so as to supply glass products that help increase the production of clean energy.
