Agritechnica 2009: SCHOTT Solar to present modules for use in agriculture

·        SCHOTT Poly 3XX double glass modules and SCHOTT Poly 2XX glass-foil modules on display at the agricultural engineering trade show (hall 26, booth A 26)

·        Extended guarantee and plus tolerance underscore premium quality

·        DLG confirms SCHOTT Solar commitment to quality

Mainz, November 4, 2009 – From November 8 – 14, 2009, the exhibitors at Agritechnica in Hanover will be presenting everything that an agriculturist’s heart could possibly desire. SCHOTT Solar AG will also be taking advantage of the world’s largest exhibition on agricultural machinery and equipment to introduce its photovoltaic modules that are designed to meet the unique needs of agriculture to one of the company’s most important target audiences. “Experts estimate that agricultural operations account for approximately 20 percent of all photovoltaic installations sold. This is why we are using our many years of experience to make our solar modules even more attractive for agriculturalists – for instance by offering an extended performance guarantee or test marks from the German Agricultural Society,” notes Lars Waldmann, Public Relations Manager at SCHOTT Solar. Following its successful debut in 2007, the solar company will be exhibiting at Agritechnica for the second time, this year on booth A26 in hall 26.

SCHOTT Solar has developed a special double glass technology that offers extremely high durability against severe weather conditions, but also high ammonia or methane contamination levels in agricultural environments. The new SCHOTT POLY 300 thus combines over 51 years of experience in encapsulation technology with the most advanced cell technology for generating sustained yields in places with extreme environmental conditions like agricultural operations. The back side of the glass prevents the module from “breathing in” moisture. As a result, chemical compounds like ammonia and methane are unable to enter into the active cell level of the module.

“Farmers will always be on the safe side with high-quality modules from SCHOTT Solar. They ensure optimal solar energy yield and guarantee lasting returns, thanks to their durability,” Lars Waldmann explains. SCHOTT Solar extended the term of the guarantee only recently and now offers a 25-year performance guarantee on glass-foil modules and even a 30-year guarantee on double glass modules. In addition to the new guarantee terms, the solar company has also introduced so-called continuous plus tolerance. This means that all of the modules from a performance class generate at least the nominal power listed. These measures increase efficiency quite considerably for those who own photovoltaic systems and underscore the premium quality that SCHOTT Solar offers.

DLG Mark confirms ammonia resistance

In October, the solar company passed the German Agricultural Society’s (DLG) FokusTest “Ammonia Resistance” and will be issued the DLG Mark of Conformity for the SCHOTT Poly 3XX double glass and the SCHOTT Poly 2XX glass-foil module series. The DLG thus confirms that these modules stand up to the unique conditions of agriculture, such as ammoniacal air in barns, and continue to deliver their very best performance. This is why SCHOTT Solar will be presenting its modules at Agritechnica. In addition, the solar company announced that the thin-film modules of the SCHOTT ASI series are also being tested. The German Agricultural Society and SCHOTT Solar have been working together this year to develop a standardized test procedure for solar modules in agricultural environments. The solar module manufacturer provided support to the DLG in the form of its know-how and many decades of experience.