NOC on Solar's Hydrophobic Coating Improves AR Coating's Light Transmittance While Reducing Soiling

Nov. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- San Jose, Calif. - Clarke Clean  has created an ultra thin, durable hydrophobic coating for solar panels and mirrors that maintains improved anti-reflective coating performance when layered over anti-reflective coatings  NOC on Solar, as the top layer, solves the concern of array soiling that goes hand-in-hand with non-protected anti-reflective coatings. A lifetime conversion benefit of 3%-6% can be accomplished when the two technologies work in conjunction with one another. This significantly reduces water consumption during cleaning cycles and can be a very important solution for solar arrays going into desert areas, or areas with a limited water supply.

In the solar industry’s quest for improved performance returns from an inefficient technology, anti-reflective coatings have become an accepted solution to gain efficiency from the module glass surface. However, ARC surface coatings are inherently porous by nature, creating a surface that will actually attract contaminants, which increases the negative effects of soiling while degrading panel energy conversion. ARC coated panels will trap environmental contaminants such as moisture, dust, pollen, grime, biofilms. Any initial improved performance gained by AR technology is short lived by due to enhanced soiling.

“When we layer NOC on Solar over an ARC we not only improve the performance of the ARC, but improve the total output of the solar array by implementing an energy efficient maintenance solution to combat the risks of soiling,” says Cliff Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of Clarke Clean, LLC, http://www.clarkeclean.com . “Current commercial PV technologies convert 10%-20% of the incoming light to electricity. The same module, with NOC on Solar coating, can deliver an additional 3%-6% power conversion by increasing light transmittance, reducing cleaning time, and maintenance cycles. A product achieving higher conversion efficiency in a cost-effective manner will ultimately reduce the total cost of ownership for solar installations by increasing the ROI.”

45% of today’s photovoltaic glass is manufactured with an AR coating. The inherent soiling problem of an ARC reduces the benefits of increased light transmittance because modules suffer from reduced conversion efficiency even before the sun’s light reaches the solar cell. A typical ARC glass panel can experience a 4% to 15+% loss of the incoming light due to trapped moisture and pollution in the glass surface and thus, is not available to generate electricity.  Applying NOC on Solar, a hydrophobic coating, to the cover glass of the module will reduce the soiling, provide a self-cleaning solar panel effect, and increase the module’s output power.

NOC on Solar, at less than 10 nanometers, is a non-polymer based product that has undergone Taber abrasion testing to determine performance over time.  When applied to solar panels it has been tested to have a net zero impact on light transmittance. NOC on Solar, in conjunction with an ARC, will improve overall panel performance by expanding the lifespan of the ARC while providing an easier to clean maintenance solution.

NOC on Solar is applied as a single layer, followed by a low temperature IR or UV curing step; a unique process that enables high–volume, low cost manufacturing.  Unlike other hydrophobic technologies that require multi-coats or very high temperatures, the NOC on Solar coating technology can be integrated directly into the module manufacturing process by spray or roller. Additionally, it can also operate as a stand-alone system on panels already installed in the field.

About Clarke Clean
Clarke Clean LLC, the maker of NOC on Solar, is a Bay Area Certified Green company, located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Founded in 2008 Clarke Clean, LLC is a minority owned business with a focus on green cleaning technology. More about Clarke Clean, LLC can be found at http://www.clarkeclean.com.

NOC on Solar is available for purchase at http://www.clarkeclean.com.  For additional information please contact media@clarkeclean.com or 408.892.9972.

NOC on Solar is a pending trademark of Clarke Clean, LLC. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Clarke Clean is the maker of NOC on Glass, a nanotechnology that can improve the performance of any piece of glass. NOC on Glass' product line includes EEMS- Energy Efficient Maintenance Systems for Solar, BGM- for Architectural Glass & VES for Autos.