California-based BioSolar Inc. today announced that it’s successfully tested its pre-production, bio-based solar cell film, bringing it “one step closer to full scale commercial production.”
The company’s BioBacksheet™ is a plant-based, rather than petroleum-based, protective film covering for photovoltaic cells. By using renewable biomaterials for backsheeting, the cost for solar cells could be reduced, according to BioSolar.
The BioBacksheet™ promises another advantage as well, as they could help make solar arrays more aesthetic, the company’s executives say.
“Aside from cost and environment-friendly advantages, BioBacksheets™ can now be manufactured in various colors,” said David Lee, CEO of BioSolar. “This feature will further differentiate BioBacksheet™ from existing petroleum-based backsheets since this is not even an option for them. Photovoltaic module manufacturers often favor color adaptation to maintain aesthetic consistency for their current solar panel.”