Nov 09, 2009
A new ASTM International standards developing activity, Subcommittee E44.20 on Glass for Solar Applications, was formed during a virtual meeting on Sept. 29. Meeting participants, including government representatives, equipment and product manufacturers and members of ASTM International Committees E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Alternative Energy Sources and C14 on Glass and Glass Products approved the formation of the subcommittee, which will be under the jurisdiction of Committee E44.
The scope of the new subcommittee is “the development and maintenance of standards for glass and glass coatings for solar applications that include, but are not limited to, photovoltaic, solar thermal and concentrating applications. The standards will address the characteristics that affect performance, durability and reliability.” In agreeing to the scope, virtual meeting participants also noted that the work of the subcommittee would be coordinated with other ASTM committees and outside organizations having mutual interest.
An April 2008 workshop held by the U.S. Department of Energy to explore how the glass and solar industries could best meet each other’s needs served as the impetus for the formation of E44.20. During this workshop, it was decided that solar glass standards should be developed so that any solar manufacturer would be able to purchase glass from different suppliers, as long as it met necessary standards for transmissivity, strength, coatings and other characteristics. Following this workshop, the Department of Energy consulted with ASTM International, which ultimately led to the formation of the new subcommittee.
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