The recent revival of solar energy applications and the growth prospects offered include major opportunities for glass processors looking to grow with the trend. Glass is a key element in solutions based on photovoltaics and concentrated solar power technologies. Modern, high-efficiency glass processing is usually run in continuous processes designed for better, constant optical quality, optimised process balancing and effective cost control to produce the lowest feasible manufacturing cost per glass area produced. This usually means that processes need to be geared for optimum runs, full utilisation of line width and minimum spacing of glass. The special case of solar products pose additional challenges, which this article examines, such as the capability to process thin glass and handle advanced coatings for improved light transmission.
