Flexible vs. Rigid Double-Glass Solar Panels: Which One is Your Best Choice?

Performance of Flexible and Dual-Glass Solar Panels in Different Environments

1. High-Temperature Environments

High-temperature environments are common in tropical or summer heat-prone regions, such as Middle Eastern deserts or Mediterranean coastal areas. In such conditions, the temperature coefficient of photovoltaic (PV) modules significantly affects their efficiency.

Environmental Characteristics:

• Ambient temperatures often exceed 40°C, with module backsheet temperatures reaching 70°C or higher.
• Frequent thermal cycles can lead to material expansion and contraction.

Flexible Solar Panels:

• Flexible panels typically have a temperature coefficient of -0.40%/°C to -0.45%/°C. This means that for every 1°C increase in temperature, the efficiency drops by approximately 0.4% to 0.45%.
• Under high temperatures, the aging of polymer backsheets and other flexible materials accelerates, leading to a power degradation of 10%-15% within 10 years of operation.
• Flexible panels often exhibit poor thermal management under prolonged high temperatures, resulting in more significant efficiency losses.

Dual-Glass Solar Panels:

• Dual-glass panels feature a dual-layer glass structure with excellent heat dissipation and a lower temperature coefficient (typically -0.30%/°C to -0.35%), ensuring more stable power output in high-temperature conditions.
• The robust glass encapsulation minimizes the risk of microcracks caused by high temperatures, making dual-glass panels ideal for long-term installation in hot climates.

2. High-Humidity Environments

Tropical rainforests, coastal regions, or areas with monsoonal climates present challenges such as high humidity and salt spray, which can significantly affect PV modules.

Environmental Characteristics:

• Prolonged high humidity (humidity >90%) leads to vapor infiltration.
• Coastal regions have high salt spray levels, which can corrode backsheets and cells.

Flexible Solar Panels:

• Flexible panels, often made with polymer backsheets and thin-film materials, are more susceptible to water vapor and salt spray. In high-humidity environments, the durability of polymer backsheets decreases, potentially causing encapsulation failure.
• Tests show that in humid environments, flexible panels experience a power degradation rate of 1%-2% per year, which can be higher in coastal regions.
• Environmental factors significantly impact the performance of flexible panels, especially in high-humidity and salt-spray conditions.

Dual-Glass Solar Panels:

• Dual-glass panels, with glass encapsulation, are highly resistant to water vapor penetration. Their strong corrosion resistance makes them well-suited for high-humidity and salt-spray environments.
• By reducing potential-induced degradation (PID), dual-glass panels maintain long-term stability. International test data indicate a power degradation rate below 0.5%-1% per year in humid environments, making them ideal for coastal and humid regions.

3. Wind-Sand and Desert Environments

In desert regions, wind-blown sand impacts the mechanical performance and light transmission of PV modules. Such environments also feature high radiation and large temperature differences between day and night.

Environmental Characteristics:

• Windblown sand erodes module surfaces, reducing light transmittance.
• Large temperature variations may cause material fatigue and cracking.

Flexible Solar Panels:

• Flexible panel surfaces are more prone to erosion from sand due to their softer polymer materials. Prolonged exposure to wind-sand abrasion can decrease transparency, reducing light transmission.
• Tests in sandy regions show that flexible panel transparency can decrease by 5%-10%, leading to efficiency losses.
• In harsh desert conditions, flexible panels exhibit poor long-term stability, with power degradation rates reaching 15%-20%.

Dual-Glass Solar Panels:

• The tempered glass surface of dual-glass panels is more resistant to wind-sand erosion. Their scratch-resistant and wear-resistant properties ensure better light transmittance over time.
• Studies show that dual-glass panels experience minimal efficiency losses in desert environments, with transparency degradation below 3% and annual power degradation rates generally between 1%-2%.

4. High-Altitude Environments

High-altitude areas, such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau or the Alps, present challenges including intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation and large temperature fluctuations.

Environmental Characteristics:

• Intense UV radiation accelerates material aging.
• Large temperature variations between day and night lead to frequent thermal expansion and contraction.

Flexible Solar Panels:

• UV radiation at high altitudes is typically 1.5 times stronger than at lower altitudes. Flexible panels, with thinner materials, are more prone to UV-induced degradation of backsheets and cells.
• Tests show that in high-altitude environments, flexible panels exhibit annual degradation rates of 2%-3%, compared to 1%-1.5% in lower altitudes.
• Prolonged UV exposure weakens polymer materials, leading to a rapid decline in efficiency.

Dual-Glass Solar Panels:

• Dual-glass panels have strong UV resistance, minimizing material degradation caused by UV exposure. This makes them well-suited for high-altitude regions.
• Verified data shows that dual-glass panels maintain annual degradation rates below 1.5% in high-altitude environments, providing greater stability under intense UV radiation.