SuperFLEX CIGS thin-film flexible solar panels.
A different type of solar panel that ticks so many boxes, making it right for so many applications.
- Low Profile
- Strong
- Light Weight
- Efficient
MIPV panels are manufactured in the UK and are made to order. They make them in three different widths and extend the lengths to increase the output. This makes them an ideal choice if you’re trying to fill a particular area or struggling to fit a traditional sized panel on the roof.
The lightweight flexible structure of the panel makes mounting on vans with roof extensions, campers with pop tops, motorhomes with over cab sleeping areas, and boats with curved hulls easy.
The back of the solar panel is self advisive simply prep your roof, peel off the backing paper and stick it down.
Why are these solar panels any different from the countless other semi-flexible panels on the market?
These panels don’t suffer from the same issues as silicon-based solar cells. Thin film solar cells are less susceptible to temperature so air is not required to cool the cells from underneath.
Traditional glass solar panels are mostly made from either monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon solar cells. These fragile cells are then encased in a protective frame, normally a glass cover with an aluminum outer frame. The glass protects the cells from flexing and cracking and the outer frame allows versatile mounting where the panels can be raised allowing air to cool the cells from the underside.
When the same cells are used in a semi-flexible panel there are a number of issues that are difficult to overcome. The solar cells are mounted on a flexible backing. Unless the cells are modified in some way to make them more flexible they are still very brittle. Normally to allow the panel to bend the cells are either sliced thinner or the cells are cut into sections and spaced across the face of the panel. This can indeed allow for a slight curve (in one direction) when mounting, but the problem arises when shipping the pannels. Any pressure in a concentrated area or flexing in a different direction than intended will cause micro-fractures in the cells that can lead to loss of performance and hot spots.
MIPV CIGS solar cells are structurally different, the cells are more like a sheet of paper or plastic and can be flexed without breaking. In fact, their solar panels are delivered, boxed, in a loose roll.
MIPV modules are certified to IEC 61646 and 61730 standards.
