Rooftop solar panels in Tijuana, Mexico, before and after ClearShield® protection

In field trials, ClearShield® outperformed Anti-Reflective coatings for energy generation

ClearShield Eco-Glass®... for optimised solar energy performance with less maintenance

Rooftop solar panels in Tijuana, Mexico, before and after ClearShield® protection

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Solar Panels

For glass on photovoltaic (PV) for electricity or thermal panels for heating, ClearShield Eco-Glass®...

- Maintains light transmission

optimises solar energy transmission
maintains initial peak watt performance
increases cumulative watt hours

- Lowers costs, raises revenue

more cost-effective energy production
reduces maintenance costs
faster payback time

- Cleaner is greener

generation of more green, sustainable energy
cuts CO₂ due to reduced cleaning frequency
no need for harsh cleaning methods / chemicals

In field trials conducted on vertical solar panels exposed to atmospheric conditions in an urban environment, ClearShield Eco-Glass® has been proven to accumulate more watt hours over time compared to standard Anti-Reflective (AR) coated glass.

ClearShield Eco-Glass® = Greater solar energy performance with less maintenance.

Glass Renovation
Staining and discolouration on the glass surface caused by air- and waterborne contaminants will reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of a solar energy installation as less light is absorbed. Research has shown that:

installations lose up to 4% efficiency in the first month of operation
contaminated solar panels lose 8% efficiency or more due to dirt and surface damage during the early stage of usage
contaminated solar panels will only run at best at 80% efficiency during its operational life due to glass contamination and losses

The efficiency of solar panels has a direct link to the light transmission of glass, and therefore the cleanliness of the glass surface. In short, the cleaner the glass, the more effective the solar panel. Thanks to the ClearShield Eco-System®, glass on installations can be renovated to remove contaminants on the surface. This in turn restores the installation's peak load performance to its original level.

ClearShield® Protection
Protection with the ClearShield Eco-System® resists staining and discolouration, keeping the glass surface cleaner for longer. This optimises light transmission, maximises efficiency and maintains performance for longer, as well as reduces maintenance requirements.

Solar Case Studies

Solar Panel Trees

Oss, Netherlands

In the carbon-neutral avenue named ‘Road of the Future’ which lies in between Oss and Berghem is an incredible new solar structure designed to fit in with its surroundings – a technology business park.

The structure is in the shape of a tree and includes branches and twigs. However, its 'leaves' are made up of solar panels which are used to produce energy for businesses on the park. The solar tree is an impressive twelve metres high, with a twelve-metre diameter. All of the solar panels are protected with ClearShield® to resist traffic pollution and general dirt in order to optimise light transmission.

Cypria Maris Hotel

Paphos, Cyprus

Cyprus enjoys over 330 sunny days annually so solar panels installed on hotel roofs for heating water is not an uncommon sight and the Cypria Maris is no exception.

However, the hotel’s location created problems for its solar panels. First, they faced the sea, so contaminants from the sea bonding on the panels was extremely corrosive to the glass surface. Secondly, the dry and dusty environment meant the panels easily got dirty. These two factors significantly impaired performance of the solar panels.

ClearShield® was subsequently applied on-site to protect the panels from the dirt and contamination. After treatment, not only were the panels operating with better efficiency, they were easier to clean and keep clean. The frequency of having to access the roof to clean the panels was also reduced, saving time and labour.

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