Gaf Energy LLC

Alex Sharenko

Richard Perkins

Gabriela Elena Bunea

Thierry Nguyen

Anna Wojtowicz

Nathan Peterson

David Fredric Joel Kavulak

William Sirski

Hamsini Gopalakrishna

Caleb David Cheung

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an integrated photovoltaic (PV) roofing shingle comprising a photovoltaic (PV) module and a roofing shingle. In some embodiments, the roofing shingle is bonded to the PV module. In some embodiments, a bond strength between the roofing shingle and the PV module is from 5 N/mm to 60 N/mm tested according to ASTM D1876. In some embodiments, the integrated PV roofing shingle has a mass per unit area of 0.5 lb per square foot to 5 lbs per square foot. Methods, systems, and kits including the integrated PV roofing shingle are also disclosed.

Integrated photovoltaic roofing shingles, methods, systems, and kits thereof

A system includes a plurality of roofing shingles having a core layer and a cap layer, with first and second ends of the cap layer offset from respective first and second ends of the core layer. The cap layer includes a first surface and a pattern on the first surface. A side lap extends from the second end of the cap layer to the second end of the core layer and an extended portion is located at the first end of the cap layer. The extended portion of a first one of the roofing shingles overlays the side lap of a second one of the roofing shingles. The system further includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules include at least one solar cell.

Roofing shingle and method of manufacturing same

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to photovoltaic module for use on a roof. In some embodiments, the photovoltaic module may include a solar cell and a polymeric continuous fiber tape. In some embodiments, the polymeric continuous fiber tape comprises a polymer and glass fiber. In some embodiments, the glass fiber is present in an amount greater than about 50% by weight based on a total weight of the polymeric continuous fiber tape. In some embodiments, the polymeric continuous fiber tape comprises an elastic modulus greater than 1 GPa and an optical transmission greater than 80%.

Photovoltaic module for a roof with continuous fiber tape

A method of making a photovoltaic module includes the step of obtaining a frontsheet having a glass layer, a light scattering encapsulant layer, and a polymer layer. The light scattering encapsulant layer includes a first region, a plurality of first portions extending from the first region, and at least one area located between the first portions. The first portions of the light scattering encapsulant layer has a first light scattering value and a second portion defined by the area has a second light scattering value different from the first light scattering value. The method includes the steps of obtaining at least one solar cell, an encapsulant, and a backsheet, and laminating the frontsheet, the encapsulant, the at least one solar cell, and the backsheet.

Photovoltaic module with light-scattering encapsulant providing shingle-mimicking appearance

A system including at least one photovoltaic module configured to be installed on a roof deck having an underlayment layer. The photovoltaic module includes at least one solar cell having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, an encapsulant layer juxtaposed with the first side of the solar cell, a glass layer juxtaposed with the encapsulant layer, and a encapsulant-backsheet layer juxtaposed with the second side of the solar cell. The encapsulant layer and the encapsulant-backsheet layer encapsulate the at least one solar cell. The system does not include an intervening layer between the encapsulant-backsheet layer and the underlayment layer.

Combined encapsulant and backsheet for photovoltaic modules

A photovoltaic module having a superstrate layer, an encapsulant having an upper layer and a lower layer, the upper layer being juxtaposed with a lower surface of the superstrate layer, and a photovoltaic layer intermediate the upper layer and the lower layer of the encapsulant. A first portion of the upper layer of the encapsulant includes a first light scattering value as measured in accordance with an ASTM E430 standard, and a second portion of the upper layer of the encapsulant has a second light scattering value as measured in accordance with the ASTM E430 standard. The second light scattering value is greater than the first light scattering value.

A system including a solar module installed on a roof deck, including a superstrate layer, an encapsulant having an upper layer and a lower layer, and a photovoltaic layer intermediate the upper layer and the lower layer of the encapsulant. An upper surface of the superstrate layer includes an indentation pattern. The indentation pattern includes a mesh of indentations indented into the upper surface of the superstrate layer and a plurality of openings defined by the mesh of indentations.

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Alex Sharenko