Photovoltaic Generators Encapsulated in Soft Polysiloxane Gels—Very Low Degradation & New Effective Recycling Method

Photovoltaic (PV) generators/panels are based on photovoltaic sensor (photodiode) technology. In fact, PV panels and PV power plants are often used not only as power generators but also as large-area sensors of the intensity of solar radiation worldwide. Therefore, data concerning photovoltaic panels/generators (i.e., sensors) degradation and encapsulation (reliability) are very important and useful. Concerning PV panel encapsulation technology, both the beginning-of-life (BOL) low degradation and the end-of-life (EOL) recycling parameters are the main challenges. Lamination of PV panels by very soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gels could result in the right solution. In addition to a longer lifetime, the very low annual degradation rate of laminated PDMS PV panels enables a reduction in the quantity of PV panels recycled in a given year by at least 3 times. Owing to the unique synergistic combination of a low degradation rate (reduced PV waste production) and a new very effective recycling method, PV waste production can be greatly reduced (~20 times) when soft gel PDMS lamination PV technology is used.