Anti-Glare Bifacial Module Designs with Structured Glass for Facade Application

Façades of buildings can be an important part of the upcoming energy system if photovoltaic (PV) modules are installed. In this context, we propose the integration of PV module lamellae mounted perpendicularly to the original façade optimizing the compromise between PV yield, shading and interior lighting of the building. Mitigating glare caused by sun reflection on the cover glass of a PV module is of paramount importance to ensure the effective operation of a PV system integrated into façades. This is achieved by glass surface structuring using laser processing in combination with wet chemical treatment. Bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurements revealed a reduction by more than three orders of magnitude for the treated glass surface.