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Scott Bader (Wellingborough, U.K.) and chemical technology expert   (Oxford, U.K.) are launching a new product combining Crestabond structural adhesives and Oxeco’s primer technology Semprabond to address the installation barriers facing flexible solar panels.

Importantly, the joint technology offers a fast, effective and flexible way to bond lightweight flexible solar panels to roofing structures made from aluminum, galvanized and coated steel, PVC plastisol-coated steel, PVC single-ply membranes and composite structures across the construction, transport, automotive and leisure markets. This eliminates the need for mechanical fixings; therefore no holes need to be drilled into the roof, maintaining water tightness, while improving the aesthetic appearance once the solar panels are installed. It has also been proven to withstand wind loads two times higher than a category-five hurricane.

Moreover, the bonding solution enables flexible solar panels to generate green electricity on structures where this was not previously possible due to the weight of traditional solar panels. Flexible solar panels are up to 80% lighter when compared to traditional glass-faced solar panels and can conform to a larger range of surface curvatures.

“Solving the issue of laminate debonding removes a major barrier to the solar energy revolution and greatly accelerates the move to net zero,” Vassilis Ragoussis, CEO of Oxeco, says. “Our shared focus with Scott Bader on outstanding performance and pioneering innovation will enable us to deliver this combination product into the market and harness solar energy in currently underutilized areas.”