Optimizing Sustainability: Balancing Antimony Content for Enhanced Optical Properties and Environmental Impact in Solar Glass
Year: 2024
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: This study investigates the effects of the antimony content in solar glass on its optical properties and the associated environmental factors. Glass samples with high, low and no antimony are analyzed. The spectral transmission and reflectance measurements show that antimony has a significant effect on light transmission, particularly in the near infrared range. Glasses with high and low antimony content show similar transmission and reflection properties, while the glass without antimony shows a significant decrease in transmission beyond 600 nm. The specific absorption values, calculated using spectral and integral measurements, show that reducing the antimony content slightly increases absorption, with glass without antimony absorbing up to 0.44 %/mm more radiation than glass with a high antimony content. Despite minor optical losses, low antimony glass retains comparable transmission properties, doubling the absorption compared to high antimony glass, but still achieving a significant reduction in specific absorption compared to zero antimony. Taking environmental impacts into account, the analysis suggests that reducing or eliminating antimony in solar glass significantly reduces the risk of toxic emissions during production and recycling, supporting more sustainable and recyclable solar module manufacturing. While integral measurements provide a more accurate assessment of absorption across the spectrum relevant for c-Si solar cells, spectral measurements show that even small amounts of antimony significantly improve the optical performance of solar glass. Overall, the study concludes that sustainable, antimonyreduced solar glass solutions can be developed with minimal impact on energy efficiency, promoting an environmentally friendly approach to photovoltaic production that meets both economic and environmental requirements.
Source: EU PVSEC
Authors: Glaubitz, Anika, Grüttner, Sven, Yagci, Selim, Pfeiffer, Oliver, Blieske, Ulf
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6929242286
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