Performance Enhancement of Photovoltaic Panels with a Silicon-Based Backsheet: An Experimental Study

Abstract

The electrical efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) panels diminishes with rising cell temperatures, a key challenge in PV performance. While various passive cooling methods exist, there is a need for simple, integrated, and effective thermal management solutions. This study investigates the use of a silicon- based thermal isolator as a novel backsheet material to address this gap. A 0.25 mm Sil-Pad 400 sheet (Henkel) with a thermal conductivity of 0.9 W/m.K was laminated onto solar cells, replacing the standard tedlar layer. The performance of the modified panel was evaluated against an identical reference panel through a single-day, side-by-side comparative test. This protocol, employing synchronized measurements of electrical output and surface temperature from 11:00 to 14:00, ensured that both panels were subjected to identical environmental conditions, thereby normalizing the effect of solar irradiance fluctuations. Results confirmed the superior thermal regulation of the silicon isolator panel, which exhibited average temperature reduction of 4 °C on the front surface, and 2 °C on the back surface, yielding a combined average reduction of 3 °C. This effective cooling translated directly into a significant 13% average increase in power output. These findings demonstrate that silicon-based isolators are a highly promising solution for enhancing PV efficiency and energy yield, offering a practical and scalable approach for improving the performance of real-world solar installations.