Lightweight Innovation Targets Higher Yields and Domestic Content Incentives
Utility-scale solar developers may soon have a powerful new tool to boost energy yield while meeting U.S. manufacturing content requirements. Endurans Solar, a leading American producer of high-performance solar materials, has unveiled its HP D15T transparent backsheet — a next-generation solution designed for bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules. According to industry reports, the product promises glass-level durability without the weight penalty of dual-glass designs, offering both performance and logistical advantages.
Replacing Rear Glass: Why It Matters
Bifacial modules capture sunlight from both front and rear surfaces, increasing total energy generation compared to traditional monofacial designs. While many bifacial modules use glass on both sides, this adds significant weight and cost, especially for utility-scale arrays. The HP D15T transparent backsheet replaces rear glass with a lightweight, coextruded high-performance polyolefin (HPO) layer, allowing module makers to use thicker, more durable front glass without exceeding handling weight limits.
This shift could improve installation efficiency, reduce transportation costs, and enable larger format modules without compromising mechanical integrity.
Technical Highlights of the HP D15T
- Thickness: 350 micrometers
- Voltage rating: Up to 1500 V systems
- Moisture protection: Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) under 1.3 g/m²/day at 38°C and 90% RH — comparable to glass
- Optics: High direct and diffuse light transmission with mesh-free design, eliminating rear-side grid patterns
- Sustainability: Adhesive-free, fluorine-free, and fully recyclable
- Certification: IEC 62788-2-1:2023 validated by TÜV Rheinland
These specifications position the D15T as a durable yet sustainable alternative to rear glass, with optical enhancements that simplify manufacturing alignment and improve bifacial energy capture.
Policy Alignment and Domestic Advantage
Endurans Solar’s launch is strategically timed to leverage U.S. policy incentives. The Inflation Reduction Act rewards domestic content in renewable projects through tax credit adders. By producing the HP D15T in U.S. facilities, Endurans enables developers to improve their domestic content ratios while reducing exposure to global supply chain volatility.
CEO Nate Coleman emphasizes that U.S.-made materials not only satisfy procurement requirements but also offer “critical supply chain stability” — a growing priority as geopolitical and logistical challenges disrupt international solar component flows.
Market Implications for Utility-Scale Solar
The bifacial market is expanding rapidly, especially for utility-scale projects where incremental efficiency gains translate directly into improved project economics. Transparent backsheets like the HP D15T could accelerate adoption by addressing key pain points: weight, manufacturing complexity, and module durability. With a mesh-free optical design, module makers no longer need precise rear-side alignment during lamination, potentially reducing production time and defect rates.
This innovation also dovetails with industry trends towards vertical integration and sustainable materials, highlighted by Endurans Solar’s recent acquisition by Canadian Solar’s CSI Solar Co., Ltd. Such moves signal a strategic focus on controlling critical supply chains while differentiating through component performance.
Looking Ahead
Endurans expects initial customer certifications and orders for the HP D15T in Q1 2026. For developers and EPC contractors, the product could mean lighter modules with better rear-side yield and easier installation — all while qualifying for lucrative domestic content incentives. As bifacial technology becomes the norm in utility-scale deployments, materials innovations like these will shape the balance between efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
For battery storage and solar integration enthusiasts, the takeaway is clear: component-level innovation is an unsung driver of renewable energy progress, and the HP D15T demonstrates how materials engineering can unlock new performance thresholds in the field.
