Applications of ethylene vinyl acetate as an encapsulation material for terrestrial photovoltaic modules

Terrestrial photovoltaic modules must undergo substantial reductions in cost in order to become economically attractive as practical devices for large-scale production of electricity. Part of the cost reductions must be realized by the encapsulation materials that are used to package, protect, and support the solar cells, electrical interconnects, and other ancillary components. As many of the encapsulation materials are polymeric, cost reductions necessitate the use of low-cost polymers. The performance and current status of ethylene vinyl acetate, a low-cost polymer that is being investigated as an encapsulation material for terrestrial photovoltaic modules, are described.