Success of the NoDustPV Project: Development of self-cleaning glass for applications in photovoltaic energy modules.

NoDustPV Project: Development of self-cleaning glass for applications in photovoltaic energy modules.

The Concentration Photovoltaic Systems Institute (ISFOC) will participate in the NoDustPV project, "Development of self-cleaning glass for applications in photovoltaic energy modules". The project will be developed in close collaboration by the companies Leitat, ISFOC and Solartys, and will be financed by the Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda, through the line of support for innovative business clusters (AEI).

The NoDustPV project aims to develop glasses and lenses with modified surfaces to repel dirt in photovoltaic modules. Thus, it is intended to improve the performance of photovoltaic installations and reduce the maintenance and cleaning tasks of modules. The glasses and lenses will be modified with atmospheric plasma treatment and by depositing hydrophobic/oleophobic layers. Additionally, the project involves testing commercially available self-cleaning coating systems used in other applications to determine their suitability for this application, as well as comparing them with the experimental methods that will be developed within the NoDustPV project. Firstly, the glasses and lenses will be developed on a laboratory scale, and their performance will be evaluated and optimized. Subsequently, small prototypes incorporating the glasses into photovoltaic modules (crystalline silicon) and concentration photovoltaic modules will be manufactured to later test the performance of the developed materials in the field.

The NoDustPV project has a 7-month execution period, expected to be completed by next April. It has an execution budget of €142,851, of which €103,855 are co-financed by the Ministry of Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda, through the "support for Innovative Business Clusters" aid, aiming to improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.