Silicone Gel Encapsulant Applications

Silicone Gel Technology

  • Basic
  • Polysiloxane Advantages
  • Silicone Gel Applications
  • Comparison of EVA & Silicone gel
  • History of silicone gel in photovoltaic industry

Examples of Silicone Gel Encapsulant Applications

Silicone gel encapsulants have a long and proven history of use in photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Their superior durability, high-temperature stability, and optical clarity make them the preferred choice for demanding applications, from space missions to advanced concentrator systems.

1. Early Applications in Space Industry
  • The first use of silicone encapsulants in PV panels dates back to the 1960s.

  • They became essential in spacecraft solar panel design, where extreme radiation, temperature cycles, and mechanical stresses demand highly reliable encapsulation.

  • Example: The Mir Space Station was equipped with large PV arrays that utilized silicone encapsulants, ensuring stable performance in orbit.

  • Even today, silicone encapsulants remain a key material in satellite and spacecraft PV modules.
2. Traxle Solar Applications

The Traxle Solar Company has successfully implemented silicone gel encapsulated PV panels in high-performance concentrator technologies:

  • V-Trough Concentrators

    • Geometrical concentration: 2.2X

    • Silicone gel ensures optical clarity, thermal resistance, and long-term durability under concentrated sunlight.

  • Super TRAXLE 5X Concentrators

    • Geometrical concentration: 4.7X

    • Achieves significantly higher energy density while maintaining system stability, thanks to the superior thermal properties of silicone gel.
3. Harsh Climate Applications (Tibet & Qinghai, Western China)
  • Regions such as Tibet and Qinghai provide some of the best solar energy production conditions in the world.

  • However, extreme UV exposure, temperature variations, and high-altitude environments typically reduce the lifetime of standard EVA-based PV panels to 3–5 years.

  • Silicone gel laminated PV panels are highly recommended in these regions for use in:

    • Fixed PV systems

    • Solar trackers

    • Ridge concentrators

  • This ensures extended lifespans and stable energy yield in environments that rapidly degrade conventional panels.

4. Advanced Solar Tracking & Concentrator Systems

Silicone encapsulants enable high-efficiency operation in advanced solar systems, where thermal and optical demands are extreme:

  • Polar Axis Solar Tracker

    • Energy gain: +33% compared to fixed PV systems.

    • Silicone gel encapsulation ensures durability during continuous motion and exposure.

  • Tracking Ridge Concentrator

    • Energy gain: +60% over conventional systems.
    • Requires exceptional encapsulation materials to handle intensified solar flux and elevated heat levels.
5. High-Temperature PV Panel (TRAXLE – Desert Star)
  • Specially developed high-temperature PV panels (TRAXLE Desert Star) are designed for desert environments, where temperatures can exceed normal PV panel operating limits.
  • Silicone gel encapsulant ensures panel integrity, preventing thermal degradation that would occur with EVA encapsulants.