What if you could generate electricity by sticking a solar panel like a sticker? An American company has achieved just that. Solar Window Technology has launched an extremely thin and flexible solar product called ElectroFlex. Its specialty is that it can be glued to any surface like a sticker and generate electricity. It doesn’t require a heavy glass frame or iron support structure.
Think of ElectroFlex as an extremely thin and lightweight solar panel, just 0.85 mm thick. This sticker-like solar panel is made of a 5-layer composite laminate, which includes a 0.10 mm front encapsulant, 0.16 mm high-efficiency solar cells, a 0.04 mm copper cell backing, a 0.30 mm composite laminate, and a 0.25 mm rear substrate.
Another advantage is that, despite its thinness, it can be customized in size and color to suit customer needs.
There are often complaints about the efficiency of solar panels, but Solar Window claims that ElectroFlex uses interdigitated back-contact cells.
This technology provides a power conversion efficiency of 24.4%. It is noteworthy that it is considered quite excellent for flexible solar panels.
ElectroFlex does not require any structural support, so it can be used in a wide range of applications. It can be used on the curved roofs of commercial trucks and trains.
It can also be used to generate electricity on drones, aircraft structures, boats, and ships. It is also used in data centers, building roofs, and agriculture.
It can also be used in homes.
SolarWindow provides not only the solar sheet in its ElectroFlex setup, but also the wiring, harnesses, electrical systems, and power-balancing components needed to connect the system.
Currently, the company is providing this product to Tier-1 OEMs in the US. In the future, it will expand to select markets in Asia.