Solar Energy

As a leading manufacturer of polysilicon and a pioneer in silicones, WACKER has been an important partner of the solar industry since its beginning. Today the company offers the solar industry a portfolio of future-proof products along the entire solar value chain.

Manufacture of Solar Cells

WACKER is a world market leader in polysilicon, with production sites in Burghausen, Nünchritz and Charleston and an annual production capacity of up to 80,000 metric tons. WACKER has a long history of producing polysilicon, ensuring high and consistent quality.

Outstanding purity (no other material in the world is produced on an industrial scale with this level of purity)
Certified according to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHRIS and OHSAS
Complete spectrum of polysilicon products

Bonding of Photovoltaic Components

ELASTOSIL^® solar silicone rubber grades are optimal for bonding solar-cell laminates into an aluminum frame. They also perform outstandingly in applications in which components such as connection boxes need to be fixed to a backing.

Reliable and high-class components for a wide range of photovoltaic applications

Benefits:

Adhesion to typical substrates (glass, aluminum, Tedlar®, EVA, etc.)
Neutral crosslinking
Long-term resistance to weathering and UV
Easy processing

Encapsulation of Solar Cells

ELASTOSIL^® Solar comprises low-viscosity, fast-curing silicone rubber grades that are ideal for encapsulating flexible and rigid solar modules.

Benefits:

Adhesion to typical substrates
Very high transparency
Rapid curing
Long-term resistance to weathering and UV radiation
No yellowing

Connector Encapsulation

In the ELASTOSIL^® Solar range, specific materials are especially designed for the potting of junction boxes. The two-part grades are low viscous, pourable, and ready to use.

Benefits:

Low viscosity and rapid curing
Low modulus for reducing thermomechanical stress
Protection of bypass diodes against moisture penetration
Improved heat dissipation

Production of CPV Modules

ELASTOSIL^® Solar silicone elastomers make CPV module production efficient and reliable and are used in various ways of applications.

Applications:

Molding of SOG (silicone on glass) Fresnel lenses panels (primary optics)
Bonding of the secondary optical element to the solar cell
Effective heat management by bonding the solar chip to the heat sink unit
Glueing the primary optics and the back panel with the frame

Benefits:

Excellent adhesion to typical substrates (glass, aluminum, multiple junction cells, etc.)
Neutral crosslinking
Long-term resistance to weathering and UV
No yellowing
Easy processing and rapid curing
Outstanding heat resistance

Solar Thermal Energy

Self-adhesive ELASTOSIL^® Solar silicones ensure permanent bonding between the glass cover and the collector housing.

Benefits:

Outstanding heat and weathering resistance
Long-term stability to UV radiation
Particularly suitable for applications involving harsh conditions

Concentrated Solar Thermal Energy

HELISOL^® silicone fluid is the key heat transfer medium in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. It features a very high heat resistance and durability and enables efficiency levels in solar thermal power plants that can’t be achieved with conventional heat-transfer media.

Schematic draw of a parabolic trough plant.

HELISOL^® heat transfer fluids allow for a signiﬁcant power block eﬃciency increase in large-scale applications and raise the temperature limit up to 425 °C. Moreover, HELISOL^® heat transfer fluids have a significantly reduced hydrogen formation during operation compared to organic thermal oils.