Glass On Glass Solar Panels
First Energy Solar Solutions
Glass or Perspex
Common sense says glass is more durable than Perspex, right? Then why would one buy a solar panel that has glass on the top and Perspex on the bottom?
Is it to save R400 on a panel?
About 5 years ago Glass on Perspex solar panels were installed on a lifestyle centre in an up-market estate in the Western Cape, These panels advertise a warranty of more than 20 years, but sadly just 5 years later have started delaminating.
Delamination of a solar panel refers to the separation or peeling apart from its layers, typically the layers of protective material, Perspex, glass, or the photovoltaic material itself. This can impact the performance and efficiency of the panel and potentially lead to failure.
When it comes to cars, which is more durable against the sun and the elements, the glass windscreen or the dashboard? The Glass, of course.
Let’s talk about warranty claims for a moment
If you contact your solar power panel supplier and let them know your solar panel has started delaminating and it is still within its 20+ year warranty, they would visit your premises to take photos, then submit those to the local distributor, who in turn would contact the manufacturer, who most probably lives in Germany, Canada or China.
The manufacturer would then go out of their way to avoid having to send you new solar panels.
They will first try to tell you that the panels were not installed correctly but, if they can’t fault the installation, they will ask you to return the panel to them at your/distributors’ cost so that they can assess the faulty unit/s. Imagine the cost to do this and how much time it would take to process. All of this can be avoided by following common sense and investing in a solar panel that has glass on both sides.
Solar Panel Safety – Glass on Glass vs Traditional Panels
In this video, we simulate an MC4 or wiring fault underneath a solar panel and what the resulting flame can do to a solar panel. We test this both on a traditional laminated solar panel and a glass-on-glass or double-glass solar panel. The result – glass on-glass solar panels are much more resistant to fire than their traditional laminated or plastic back sheet counterparts.