NoDustPV

Project title: NoDust PV

Source of funding: Support for Innovative Business Groups – 2017 Call

File identification number: AEI-010500-2017-245

Project beneficiary: SPANISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE INTERNATIONALISATION AND INNOVATION OF SOLAR COMPANIES

Project consortium: SPANISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE INTERNATIONALISATION AND INNOVATION OF SOLAR COMPANIES, Institute of Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems S.A., and ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE.

Project duration: 2017-2018

Execution budget: €142,851.00

DESCRIPTION: ISFOC is participating in the NoDust PV project, whose main objective is the development of glass, surface-modified lenses, and coatings for photovoltaic modules in order to repel dirt and increase their hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. This will increase the performance and energy produced in photovoltaic systems, reducing the cleaning operations on photovoltaic modules.

To achieve this objective, the project aims to cover the following specific objectives:

• Modification of the surface of glass and lenses used in photovoltaic technologies to increase their hydrophobic and oleophobic properties and repel dirt.
• Increase the wettability and adhesion of the glass by atmospheric plasma by depositing coatings with hydrophobic and oleophobic functionalities on lenses and glass homogeneously, obtaining contact angles greater than 120° in water.
• Validation of the required durability of the coatings through accelerated ageing tests for light, temperature, and humidity cycles in both indoor and outdoor laboratories.

The NoDust PV project is part of the established aids for supporting innovative business groups with the aim of improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. These grants are funded by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.