BioSolar works to make solar power energy cleaner and cheaper by using bio-based materials from renewable plant sources. The company last week announced that it finally received the Relative Thermal Index (RTI) recognition from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for its BioBacksheet. RTI is the temperature below which a material will not be compromised by long-term, thermally induced chemical degradation.
Biosolar said its BioBacksheet is the world’s first and only UL approved bio-based backsheet for use in solar panels, and it is a direct replacement for conventional backsheets currently used in over 70 per cent of solar panels in the world. A backsheet is the necessary bottom layer of a fully assembled solar panel.
UL certification is required for all electronic products and components, such as solar panels, prior to their sale in the general marketplace. BioSolar received UL materials certification for BioBacksheet in February 2011. Since then, UL has been performing long term thermal stability testing on BioBacksheet. The official provisional RTI designation from UL allows solar panel manufacturers to proceed with confidence in integrating BioBacksheet into their panels for full UL certification, which the company expects to be merely a procedural matter.
BioSolar says its product costs less, performs better than conventional backsheets, increases power output and is greener than the competition.
“This is a defining moment for BioSolar. By receiving the official provisional RTI designation from UL, we have completed the final product development milestone for BioBacksheet. I am pleased to report that we are finally ready to accept commercial orders”, said Dr. David Lee, BioSolar’s CEO.
Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.
