SolOptics FUSION Boosts PV Power Output For Less Than a Penny per Watt

The FUSION technology significantly improved the energy yield of the PV modules tested by SolOptics at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The non-concentrating, customizable optical surface tech reportedly provided an unmatched performance-to-cost ratio.

Specifically, it increases the power output of both new and previously installed photovoltaic panels for a production cost of less than $0.01/watt.

FUSION uses microstructures that are incorporated into the surface either a thin polymer film and then adhered to a PV panel, either in the factory or in the field, or engineered directly into the protective glass or polymer cover.

The NREL performed several outdoor tests at its Golden, Colorado, research campus, in which FUSION increased the overall energy production of the PV modules tested up to 4%, with performance improvements for all irradiance ranges.

The largest improvements, up to 40%, occurred for higher angles of incidence under clear skies. According to SolOptics, this equates to even greater power output in the afternoon and early evening hours - the hours of peak power demand for utilities. What’s more, the addition of FUSION did not raise the panel temperatures.

“The Department of Energy recently announced the winners of over $145 million in funding for its SunShot program with the goal of reducing the total costs of photovoltaic solar energy systems by about 75 percent before 2020,” explained Genie Lens President & COO Melissa Grossman in a statement for the press. “FUSION has already made substantial strides toward this goal today. Based on the overwhelming interest from our previous test results with NREL and this most recent performance confirmation, we look forward to finalizing our materials commercialization partner relationship and delivering this product to market as quickly as possible.”

This FUSION tech is projected to increase the annual PV market value by $5 billion in the US by 2015 thanks to the wide range of serviceable markets and low manufacturing costs.