Photovoltaic Modules and Encapsulation of Solar Cells

Bernhard Koll

The photovoltaic industry as part of renewable energy industry has – after more than 30 years of research and industrial experience- reached the threshold of serial PV module production with high efficiency.

In 2002 the installed capacity of PV in the world was more than 500 MWp, that means an area of more than 5 Mio. m² encapsulated solar cells. The market growth in the past decade was 25-30%/p.a. with ongoing tendency this decade.

Today the PV industry guarantees for solar modules a lifetime of minimum 20 years and more.

After a short introduction to the market development the technical discussion will be focussed on aspects regarding the lifetime of PV modules with a special focus on plastic encapsulation materials (e.g. PVB or EVA film etc.), their technical advantages and disadvantages and consequences for the cost calculation.

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