The focus of our research on the durability of components is the aging of materials with optical layers, e.g. reflectors, absorbers or glasses with anti-reflex or anti-soiling coatings.
To determine the durability of components we test material samples at Spanish and North-African exposure sites. The degradation effects are then studied and characterized in collaboration with CIEMAT at their Plataforma Solar de Almería (owned by the Spanish research center CIEMAT).
In the climatic chambers of the OPAC-laboratory we also expose material samples to accelerated aging conditions. The testing possibilities include
The optical degradation can be quantified using several measurement devices. Some of these are particularly developed prototypes. The scientific results are used for the estimation of the lifetime of materials and for the development of specific guidelines and standards for thermal solar power plants.