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Terra Pave sealant creates high-albedo ground cover for solar systems

By Billy Ludt | April 8, 2020

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Beckett Solar Energy signed on to be the official marketer of Terra Pave products in the solar industry. Terra Pave Top-Seal White Albedo (TSW), patented by the University of Texas, Austin, is an “eco-friendly” permanent soil binder that covers the ground with a concrete-like structure and provides a permanent white color.

“I am inspired to be working with visionaries such as David Pham, co-developer of Terra Pave products, and Dr. Yetkin Yildirim, president and CEO of Terra Pave International to promote these sustainable products that have the potential to transform bi-facial solar farm potential and help mitigate the effects of climate change,” said Sharon Bailey Beckett, managing partner of Beckett Solar Energy.

A common problem in solar installations is that solar panels become soiled by dust from exposed ground soil surfaces around the installation. Soiled solar panels decrease revenue (5%-50% reduced output of the system) and increase O&M costs. In addition, vegetation such as tall weeds can create shading and reduce system production; they can also cause hot spots that destroy panels.
The efficiency of bifacial solar panels is highly dependent on the albedo, or reflective quality of the ground. Natural ground has low albedo, and because of that, it is hard for developers to create accurate revenue models. Asphalt roads are not eco-friendly and their construction comes with the generation of toxic fumes and high costs.

TSW solves these problems by creating a water-impenetrable barrier that holds the underlying soil and dust in place and prevents vegetation from growing through the binder, the company said in a press release.

The product can significantly reduce the costs for existing solar farms in dust/vegetation control and reduce O&M costs, the company said in a press release. With its high-albedo properties, TSW Albedo can increase the efficiency of bifacial solar farms by creating a surface that is consistently and highly reflective albedo.

Environmentally-friendly

Unlike asphalt or concrete, Terra Pave products are eco-friendly because — as tested by San Antonio Testing labs — they have no detectable concentrations of volatile, semi-volatile, heavy metals or petroleum hydrocarbons.

Product testing also indicated that Terra Pave is:

  • Non-Hazardous
  • Non-Petroleum based
  • Non-Toxic
  • Non-Corrosive
  • Waterproof
  • Erosion Resistant

Terra Pave can also shorten the pile-driving depths for solar mounts. TSW enables easier financial modeling, accurate engineering design and accurate prediction for bifacial panels, the company said in a press release, and creates cost-effective, eco-friendly access roads.

News item from Beckett Solar Energy

About The Author

Billy Ludt

Billy Ludt is associate editor of Solar Power World.

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