Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)
On the left, one can see the difference between the approximately 4% transparent standard module and a 50% transparent module with a dot pattern.
This image shows a custom silk screen dot pattern on the left of the glass, while on the right side is the pv. This glass is a triple laminate structure. There are two larger sheets of glass in between which you will find the pv and the clear, filler glass. The silk screen print is on the back glass which is also a colored glass, light green. The back, green glass with the white silk screen dots is 0.2" or 5 mm thick, the middle, pv and clear glass is 3mm thick and the front glass, in this instance, is also 0.12" or 3 mm. So, the total thickness of this glass is 0.44" or 11mm. The customization options are almost limitless!
These modules have a checker pattern and about 26% transparency. The shadow it will cast on a sunny day is going to be very interesting. This pattern can also be combined with colored glass, for example blue. It would really look nice and ineresting as a skylight! You can see, it has a very nice transparency pattern and shows the image very clearly.
This building was built in Vancouver, BC for BCIT's headquarters. Partially transparent modules (26%) (lower half) are integrated into the window's vision glass. This partially transparent building integrated section can be combined with another system on a roof, for example, where several kW of modules could consist of the system.
Please contact us if you need any information on building integrated PV modules.