Fraunhofer CSP develops ultrathin glass-glass PV modules strengthened by special coating

Fraunhofer CSP and Exxosqel GmbH are developing a thin-glass solar module with a special coating to improve mechanical strength, using 1 mm-thick glass panes and quarter-cells from bifacial M6 9-busbar PERC cells. The coating reacts with damaged glass surfaces to increase strength and durability, potentially reducing material use, energy consumption, and carbon emissions by up to 40%. This technology could be applied to standard solar modules, enabling lightweight designs for building-integrated photovoltaics, while also aiming to improve hail resistance by decoupling mechanical performance from traditional glass-thickness limitations. Full-size module testing for hail resistance is the next crucial step in confirming the technology's effectiveness.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/20/fraunhofer-csp-develops-ultrathin-glass-glass-pv-modules-strengthened-by-special-coating/