Whitepaper

Transparent Backsheet VS Dual Glass---

Advantages and Disadvantages

GLOBAL PM, JINKOSOLAR

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Bifacial with transparent backsheet (bifacial TB) or bifacial with dual glass (bifacial DG), which one is more compe ve? It is rather a known
dispute in the industry. Either bifacial TB or bifacial DG, has its advantages and disadvantages. Based on the study of two types of bifacial
products and long-term outdoor performance test carried by JinkoSolar, comparisons from mul ple perspec ves are discussed below.

1、Weight

Since 2019, solar modules have become more and more diversified. But the trend that larger size, higher power is definite. Along with the
size increase, the module weight is also growing. Compared with the dual glass, transparent backsheet can successfully decrease module
weight, and the difference between glass-transparent backsheet module and dual glass module increases with growing module size. For
410Wp product, the weight difference is only 3.3kg but for the future 560Wp products (es ma on based on the power and efficiency
increasing trend), the difference is increasing up to 6kg. Using transparent backsheet as encapsula on material for the rear side can keep
module weight under 30kg when the module size is as large as 2.7m2, which benefits installa on and transporta on, as well as cu ng down
BOS cost.

Table 1 Weight Calcula on based on different module size

Power 405 445 465 500 560

Area (m2) 1.98 2.21 2.28 2.41 2.70

G/B (kg) 23.3 24.8 25.7 27.1 30.3

2.0mm G/G (kg) 26.6 29.7 30.0 32.4 36.3

2.5mm G/G (kg) 30.8 34.4 35.5 37.5 42

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 45

40
Weight (KG)
35

30

25

20
1.98 2.21 2.28 2.41 2.70

2
Area (m )

2.5mm G/G 2.0mm G/G G/B

Figure 1 Weight changes with different module size

2、Mechanical properties

The front side glass of bifacial TB is 3.2mm tempered glass, whereas front side glass of bifacial DG is 2.0mm heat strengthened glass. Owing
that tempered glass has higher impact strength, bifacial TB has lower risk if used in regions with hail weather. Bifacial DG has symmetric
structure that both side glass could contribute to the mechanical strength, thus bifacial DG has higher wind load, higher dynamic mechanical
load. In some high wind speed regions (wind load higher than 2400Pa), bifacial DG means lower risk, whereas bifacial TB can also be used
with extra fixing equipment. In fact, the cer fied 5400pa snow load / 2400pa wind load can meet the design requirements of most power
plants. From this point, bifacial TB and bifacial DG are basically the same in terms of mechanical proper es.

Table 2 Mechanical proper es of bifacial TB and bifacial DG

Type Bifacial with Transparent Backsheet Bifacial with Dual Glass

3.2mm Tempered Glass 2.0mm Heat strengthened Glass

Structure Bifacial Cell Bifacial Cell
Transparent Backsheet 2.0mm Heat strengthened Glass

Front side glass is tempered glass-- Front side glass is 2.0mm heat strengthened
higher impact strength glass-- lower impact strength
Features Asymmetric structure, backside is backsheet-- Symmetric structure, both side glass contribute
lower wind load, lower dynamic mechanical to the mechanical strength--higher wind load,
load higher dynamic mechanical load
Impact Strength Front side: 4.28 N-m
4.76 N-m Black side (with holes):3.28 N-m
(Drop ball test)
Maximum
+5400/-2400 +5400/-2400
sta c load
±1000Pa, 1000 mes ±1000Pa, 1000 mes
Dynamic load Silight micro cracks, no power degrada on No micro cracks, no power degrada on

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3、Reliability in extreme weather

Dual glass modules have been known for their excellent vapor-resistance. The risk of breakage for the dual glass modules is lower compared
with normal products in the environment with high humidity such as offshore area and floa ng projects. 30-year life me solu on of bifacial
TB is using transparent backsheet with fluoric materials on both sides combined with vapor-resistance POE. The outer layer of transparent
backsheet is Dupont Tedlar film, which is an -aging and an -corrosion. The inner layer is fluoric coa ng（thicker than 10μm）which can
effec vely block UV and keep backsheet’ s excellent mechanical proper es in extreme environments. POE is a polymer material with more
stable molecular chain without acid groups and has be er water resistance than EVA. The combina on of PVF-based transparent backsheet
and POE contributes to the good performance in the strict reliability test up to DH3000, and the degrada ons are all within 4%.

5.00%

3.97%
4.00% 3.78%
3.35%
3.35%
3.00%

2.00%

1.00%

0.00% 0
00

0
00

00

0
0

F2
0

96
0

F2

2
F1
60

10
40
20

20

30

19
H

D
H
TC

-H
H
TC
TC

0-
H

PI

D
0-
D

50

PI
15
15
TC

TC
TC

Front Back

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In the DH2000 test, the degrada on of the bifacial TB is slightly higher than that of bifacial DG (POE is also used as the encapsula on
material). And in PID192h test, the degrada on of bifacial TB and bifacial DG is basically the same, with both side degrada on within 4%. For
most regions, these two kinds of bifacial modules can withstand the 30-year humidity and heat impact, maintaining a low degrada on level.
Only in the extreme hot and humid environment, bifacial DG is more compe ve.

DH200 PID 192H

5% 5%

4% 4%
3.39%
3.13%
Degrada on

Degrada on

3.12% 3.15%
3% 3%
2.74% 2.45%
2.29%
2.29%
2% 2%

1% 1%

0% 0%
Bifacial with dual glass Bifacial with transparent backsheet Bifacial with dual glass Bifacial with transparent backsheet
(P type) (P type) (P type) (P type)

Front side Rear side Front side Rear side

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4、Anti-UV properties

There is an obvious difference in the ultraviolet transmi ance of transparent backsheet and glass. UV transmi ance of transparent
backsheet is less than 1%, whereas UV transmi ance of glass is 40-50%. Due to the common use of high-transparency POE for bifacial
modules, bifacial DG cannot block the damage of transmi ed UV from backside to the packaging materials and cells, while transparent
backsheet can block UV and thus protect cells and packaging materials.

95
85
75
Transmi ance(%)

65
55
45
35 UV
25
15
5
-5

00
40
80
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
64
68
72
76
80
84
88
92
96
10
10
10
Transparent
2.0mm Glass
Backsheet

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Rear-side power degrada on a er UV 30kWh/m2

5%

4%

3% 2.70%

2%
1.33%
1%

0%

Bifacial TV Bifacial DG

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5、Resistance to saline alkali corrosion

The main component of glass is silicate, which has certain solubility in alkaline solu on. It is easy to be corroded in the alkaline environment
and form white spots which are difficult to clean. The transparent backsheet has excellent resistance of saline alkali corrosion, thus the risk
of transparent backsheet module is lower in the greenhouse, saline-alkali soil and PV agricultural project.

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6、Resistance to abrasion

Glass is a kind of hard inorganic material, almost no abrasion in sand region. The outer layer of transparent backsheet is Tedlar film, which
can withstand more than 50L falling sand. Transparent backsheet can also withstand sand abrasion of more than 30 years in desert area.

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7、Stain-resistance and easy to clean

The stain-resistance of transparent backsheet makes the rear side of bifacial modules easier to clean and maintain than glass. There are
three soiling layers as shown in Figure 8 on the surface of modules opera ng outdoor.

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There are a lot of fluorine atoms on the surface of transparent backsheet, which is extremely electronega ve. As a result, the soiling on the
surface of transparent backsheet are dust which is combined with the backsheet though physical absorp on. These kind of stains are very
easy to clean by rain; thus, the stain is difficult to accumulate on the surface of backsheet and will not have effects on the energy genera on.
Glass is hydrophilic. During long-term opera ng, there are mud spots formed by mixing ash and rainwater and dried on the surface of glass,
while there is no obvious dirt on the surface of transparent backsheet, as shown in Figure 9.

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The surface of the transparent backsheet is hydrophobic, and the water drops are easy to roll off and take away the dust. On the contrary,
the glass surface is hydrophilic, the water drop will spread, and stains form stronger combina on with the surface, so the glass is more
difficult to clean. Test the easy-to-clean performance of transparent backsheet and glass surface refer to GB / T 9780-2005, as shown in
Figure 11. Only by water washing (flow rate 0.3-0.5m / s) for 10s, the dirt on the surface of transparent backsheet is cleaned, while there are
s ll many residues on the surface of glass.

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8、Energy generation

Energy genera on property is undoubtedly the most important property. In 4 different field tests, bifacial TB has more energy genera on
compared with bifacial DG. The detailed energy gain is shown in Figure 12

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Analyzing the data of irradiance and daily yield per wa of cement-fixed installa on (P type) project, daily yield per wa of transparent
backsheet module is higher when higher irradiance. It is also obvious that the slope of the fi ng func on of the transparent backsheet
module is larger, so the power genera on difference between the bifacial TB and bifacial DG will increase under high irradiance. The higher
power genera on of transparent backsheet is originate from the lower opera ng temperature. Glass becomes opaque at wavelengths longer
than approximately 3 μm, while the transparent backsheet in the infrared spectrum is transparent to the heat dissipa on of solar cells from
the back of the module. The heat dissipa on mechanism of bifacial TB is more comprehensive, so it can have lower opera ng temperature.

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Summary

Bifacial with transparent backsheet and bifacial with dual glass have their own advantages and disadvantages. The radar chart can help
customers evaluate those two products and their applica on scenarios more comprehensively. As can be seen from the figure below, bifacial
TB is an all-around module with balanced performance in different aspects. The bifacial DG is be er in terms of the resistance to humidity
and mechanical proper es, but worse in terms of resistance to UV, saline-alkali, weight and easy-to-clean property. And the energy
genera on is slightly worse than that of bifacial TB.

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Based on the above analysis, applica on scenarios of these two kinds of bifacial modules are as follows:

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Type Bifacial with Transparent Backsheet Bifacial with Dual Glass

1. Most on-ground PV sta on in not very hot and 1. Most on-ground PV sta on.
humid area.
Recommended 2. In very hot and humid area as well as high
applica on area 2. High labor cost area, like EU, Japan, Australia wind speed area, bifacial with dual glass is a
(can effec vely receive labor cost). be er choice
3. Commercial roof-top project

1. Places with hail weather

1. High wind speed area
Limita on 2. High UV region
2. Very hot and humid area
3. Saline-alkali corrosion region

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