Among structural materials, glass has many properties that make it uniquely suited for use in the design and fabrication of solar cells, modules, and arrays. While many different technologies are used in the engineering and science behind these solar power devices, they all have one thing in common: they convert light energy into electrical energy through what’s called the “photovoltaic effect” or PV effect for short. This paper is intended to assist both the glass fabricator and end user by providing an overview of the most important properties pertaining to glass used in photovoltaic applications.

The Technical Services Division of the National Glass Association (NGA) has produced this Glass Technical Paper solely for informational purposes. This Paper was developed by dedicated member volunteers and subject matter experts. The original version of this document was published in 2014. This version of the document was updated and published in March 2025.
 
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