According to Saint-Gobain, LightSwitch film products provide solar PV module manufacturers with “enhanced performance, durability, and a reduction in total systems cost.”

Julia DiCorleto, Business Manager, Photovoltaics & Extruded Films, Saint-Gobain Solar, says: “The LightSwitch family of solutions, from innovative materials to design and support services, was created to meet growing PV module manufacturing needs.

“As renewable energy becomes a global priority, we continue to develop high-quality, cost-effective products and services that help our customers utilize lightweight fluoropolymer plastics easily, and achieve grid parity.”

LightSwitch Frontsheet is a melt processable fluoropolymer providing good weatherability and UV resistance, ideal for flexible and lightweight solar modules. The highly transparent films provide frontsheets weighing as little as 0.1 kg/m2, offering good resistance to chemicals and weathering, low flammability, stress crack resistance, and insulating properties. In addition, LightSwitch Frontsheet is surface-treated to ensure adhesion to LightSwitch Encapsulant.

LightSwitch Encapsulant provides cushioning and structural support to solar cells and circuitry, while maximizing transmission of sunlight for energy conversion. With good weathering properties, it protects the solar module throughout its lifecycle. LightSwitch Encapsulant is suitable for both flexible and rigid modules, with good adhesion to other solar PV module components.

LightSwitch Frontsheet Complete, a pre-laminate combining Frontsheet and Encapsulant, features all the performance benefits of both with improved production efficiencies, including reduced wrinkles and precise alignment, Saint-Gobain says.

The portfolio also includes the LightSwitch Module Design Program and engineering design services for solar PV module manufacturers.