Introduction of Solar Shingle Technology
What is Solar Shingle?
Solar shingles, also called photovoltaic shingles, are solar panels designed to look like and function as conventional roofing materials, such as asphalt shingle or slate, while also producing electricity. Solar shingles are a type of solar energy solution known as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
There are several varieties of solar shingles, including shingle-sized solid panels that take the place of a number of conventional shingles in a strip, semi-rigid designs containing several silicon solar cells that are sized more like conventional shingles, and newer systems using various thin-film solar cell technologies that match conventional shingles both in size and flexibility. There are also products using a more traditional number of silicon solar cells per panel reaching as much as 100 watts DC rating per shingle.
Shingle solar cells are solar cells which are cut into typically 5 or 6 strips. These strips can be overlaid, like shingles on a roof, to form the electrical connections. The strips of solar cells are joined together using an electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) that allows for conductivity and flexibility. This allows the cells to be connected differently to conventional solar panels, in that, there are no busbars (ribbons) required and the solar cells can be joined together resulting in no gaps between the solar cells.
Shingled solar modules can also be wired differently to conventional solar panels. Typically, solar cells in conventional solar panels are wired in a series of strings whereas the solar cells in shingled panels can be wired in parallel configuration.
Description:
Solar shingles are photovoltaic modules, capturing sunlight and transforming it into electricity. Different models of shingles have different mounting requirements. Some can be applied directly onto roofing felt intermixed with regular asphalt shingles while others may need special installation.
Some early manufacturers used solar thin-film technologies such as CIGS - copper indium gallium selenide solar cell to produce electricity, which are less common in the solar industry than silicon-based cells. The installation methods for some solar shingle solutions can be easier than traditional panel installations because they avoid the need to locate rafters and install with a process much more similar to asphalt shingles than standard solar panels.
Solar shingled roofs tend to have a deep, dark, purplish-blue or black color, and therefore look similar to other roofs in most situations. Home owners may prefer solar shingles because large solar panels can be highly visible and spoil the aesthetics of the house.
The advantages of shingled solar panels:
Essentially the three key advantages of the shingled solar panel design are they can produce more power, improve reliability and aesthetically pleasing.
I) Increased energy harvest
Higher power per square meter The shingled solar cells do not require busbars across the top of the cells so more of the solar cells are exposed to sunlight. The cells do not need to be spaced apart like in conventional solar panels so the solar panel area can produce more energy.
Less energy loss due to shading.
Conventional solar panels have the individual cells wired in series so when a part of the solar panel is shaded it can have a significant effect on the level of power output. By configuring the solar cells in shingles, they can be wired in groups and configured in parallel which significantly reduces the losses caused by shading.
II) Better reliability
Low busbar failures
Shingle solar panels do away with approximately 30 meters of busbar and soldered joints that are required on conventional solar panels, so busbar failures are reduced.
Better mechanical performance.
Static and dynamic load tests show that the shingle approach is more resistant to failure due to external forces being applied to the solar panel compared to conventional solar panels.
III) Appearance
More attractive and stylish compared to traditional panels
Shingled solar panel have no visible circuitry which gives them clean simple look providing superior street appeal.