New Bio-Solar Panels Are Made from Cotton and Castor Beans
Posted By Lidija Grozdanic On March 14, 2013 @ 5:23 pm In green technology,News,Solar Power | 1 Comment
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A new type of solar panel [5] component, developed by California-based solar company BioSolar [6], is made from a material derived from cotton and castor beans. Called BioSolar Backsheets, these products are non-toxic [7], more durable and less expensive to make than their petroleum-based counterparts. Bio-based solar backsheets won USDA BioPreferred Certification and are now available for commercial purchase.
[8]Photo from Wikimedia Commons [9]
The top layer of a solar cell is usually made from glass and non bio-based polymers. The new backsheet is a transparent bio-based composite meant to replace this layer and reduce the production cost of solar modules. Cotton [10] is used to provide tough cellulosic fibers [11], while castor beans contribute resin, which is further processed to create a polyamide similar to nylon. The result is a material that is cheaper to manufacture and is free of toxic industrial solvents. The bio-backsheets have a high degree of thermal conductivity — a quality that helps extend the lifespan of solar panels.
There are some concerns regarding the use of castor beans in the solar industry. Not only are they toxic to humans [12] and provoke severe allergic reaction during processing, they are also rarely grown in the U.S. Due to their viability as an environmentally-friendly alternative to petroleum, researchers are currently working on making castor beans less toxic.
+ BioSolar [13]
Via Clean Technica [14]
Lead Photo from Wikimedia Commons [15]
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Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com
URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/new-bio-solar-panels-are-made-with-cotton-and-castor-beans/
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[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/new-bio-solar-panels-are-made-with-cotton-and-castor-beans/
[4] Image: http://inhabitat.com/new-bio-solar-panels-are-made-with-cotton-and-castor-beans/solar-panels-17/
[5] solar panel: http://inhabitat.com/google-invests-to-bring-solar-power-systems-to-3000-homes/
[6] BioSolar: http://www.biosolar.com/
[7] non-toxic: http://inhabitat.com/biopesticide-grown-from-mushrooms-offers-non-toxic-way-to-protect-crops-from-unwanted-guests/
[8] Image: http://inhabitat.com/new-bio-solar-panels-are-made-with-cotton-and-castor-beans/castor-beans/
[9] Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castor_beans.jpg
[10] Cotton: http://inhabitat.com/ikea-pledges-to-transition-to-100-%E2%80%9Cbetter-cotton%E2%80%9D-by-2015/
[11] cellulosic fibers: http://inhabitat.com/super-durable-material-made-from-wood-waste-is-stronger-cheaper-and-lighter-than-kevlar/
[12] toxic to humans: http://inhabitat.com/ironic-twist-of-fate-the-color-green-is-toxic/
[13] + BioSolar: http://www.biosolar.com/products.html#backsheet
[14] Clean Technica: http://cleantechnica.com/2013/03/14/biosolar-uses-bio-based-materials-for-solar-cells/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+%28CleanTechnica%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
[15] Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_the_solar_panels_(3077173597).jpg
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