This report details the construction and operation of a pilot-scale manufacturing facility for an innovative anti-reflection (AR) coating that can be used on solar panels.
Report extract
Brisbane Materials Technology (BMT) has developed a unique anti-reflection coating technology that can increase the energy delivered from solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal power systems. The coating works by eliminating reflections from air-glass or air-plastic interfaces which are normally wasted in the solar conversion process. In this ARENA Project, BMT has created and qualified a pilotscale plant for the production of large area solar AR coatings for application to PV modules. This pilotscale plant served multiple purposes: it proved that the BMT technology can be successfully scaled; it allowed BMT to develop and test processes, equipment and manufacturing methods; it produced manufacturing relevant batches for customer test and qualification; and finally, it provided the blueprint for the first BMT AR Coating Manufacturing Plant. This successful ARENA Project has substantially advanced the commercial prospects of BMT to such an extent that we are in negotiations with a major solar PV module manufacturer to purchase a plant.