Terra Pave Top-Seal soil binder debuts to reduce dust, boost albedo on solar PV sites

Beckett Solar Energy sent word that it’s the official solar industry marketer of an intriguing new product called Terra Pave Top-Seal White Albedo (TSW) — an eco-friendly permanent soil binder that transforms the ground into a concrete-like structure and provides a permanent white-as-snow color.

This addresses several common issues on solar sites, especially in the bifacial solar module era.

#1 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.

#2 The efficiency of bifacial solar panels is highly dependent on the albedo* or reflective quality of the ground; natural ground has low albedo. Because of that, it is hard for developers to create accurate revenue models.

#3 Typically used asphalt roads are not eco-friendly and their construction comes with the generation of toxic fumes and high costs.

Patented by the University of Texas, Austin, in association with Ecological Estates Inc., Terra Pave Top-Seal White Albedo solves these problems by creating a water-impenetrable barrier that holds the soil and dust in place and prevents vegetation from growing through the binder.

Terra Pave Top-Seal White Albedo can significantly reduce the costs for existing solar farms in Dust/Vegetation control and reduce O&M costs. Because of its high-albedo properties, Terra Pave TSW Albedo can greatly increase efficiency of bifacial solar farms by creating a surface that is consistently and highly reflective albedo 365 days per year equal to albedo of snow.

Environmentally friendly?

Unlike asphalt or concrete, Terra Pave products are pitched as eco-friendly because – as tested by San Antonio Testing labs – they have no detectable concentrations of volatile, semi-volatile, heavy metals or petroleum hydrocarbons. This is clearly advantageous for human health and the environment.

Product testing also indicated that Terra Pave is:

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

Additional benefits:

Terra Pave can also shorten the depth of pile-driving for the mounting structure of the solar modules and lessen the use of steel – about or around a 20% decrease in mounting structure installation cost.

Terra Pave enables easier financial modeling, accurate engineering design and accurate prediction for bifacial panels

Terra Pave enables the creation of cost-effective eco-friendly access roads

— Solar Builder magazine

[source: https://solarbuildermag.com/operations-maintenance/terra-pave-top-seal-soil-binder-debuts-to-reduce-dust-boost-albedo-on-solar-pv-sites/]