Can you Glue a Flexible Solar Panel?

If you're uncomfortable drilling into your surfaces to install flexible solar panels, I have good news for you:

A flexible solar panel can be glued to any surface, and it’ll function as perfectly as screwed rigid solar panels or rails.

The decision on what strategy to use to mount your flexible solar panel can be a tricky one but don’t stress as we’re here to help you out.

In this post, you'll learn everything about adhering a flexible solar module onto a surface with simple gluing techniques and using readily available adhesives.

For a Firm Mount, you should Glue your Flexible Solar Panel

For a firm grip, gluing a flexible solar panel on the target surface is undoubtedly the best mounting option.

Flexible solar panels can be shaped to mount on various surfaces and structures, from cars, boats, vans, AVs, aircraft to golf cart roofs.

We are used to clamping rigid panels to rails, but installing flexible panels on these unconventional surfaces is different.

Gluing is the best option for mounting flexible solar panels as it allows flexible mounts on even the most irregular surfaces.

To help you understand the mounting process of flexible solar panels, let's first check out the adhesives you should use.

Best Adhesives for Gluing Flexible Solar Panels

Most flexible solar panel mounts are done on metal surfaces, so the best adhesives should form a strong bond between the modules and the metal surfaces.

Below are 3 types of adhesives with example(s) you can use for flexible solar panels:

Adhesive tape

• Eternabond tape
• 3M VHB adhesive tape
• Velcro tape

Gun grade polyurethane sealant

Sikaflex-221

Adhesive sprays

3M Hi-strength 90 spray

With these examples, we can now proceed to the actual gluing process.

The Correct Procedure to Glue a Flexible Solar Panel

Depending on the adhesive you have, there’re several correct ways to glue solar panels. In this post, we’ll discuss 4 procedures utilizing all the adhesives listed above.

Procedure 1: Velcro-Eternabond tape mount

Materials needed

• Marker
• Velcro tape
• Eternabond tape

Here’s the procedure that you should follow:

• Clean the surface where you want to mount your flexible solar panel. You can use rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth for this.

• Lay the solar panels on the surface and mark the section where you'll get your perfect mount.

• Turn the module so that the backside faces up.

• Stick the Velcro tape on the center of the solar panel, and then return it to its original position. The Velcro tape should hold the solar panel in place. Note: You can use double-sided mounting tape instead of Velcro tape.

• Cut sections of your Eternabond adhesive tape and fix them all around the solar panel. Don't forget to cut the Eternabond tape around the junction box so that you're not covering it.

• Remove the sticky back from the tape sections, then press firmly to fix the edges of the solar panel on the mounting surface.

• Apply some pressure on the fixed edges to remove air bubbles and ensure a firm mount.

While this procedure is simple and easy to follow, removing a flexible solar panel can be a hassle when you glue it with Eternabond tape.

So here's an alternative procedure to use:

Procedure 2: Plastic board-3M VHB adhesive tape mount

Materials needed

• Marker
• A plastic cardboard
• 3M VHB adhesive tape
• Regular nuts
• Lock washer
• Carriage bolt

Here’s the procedure that you should follow:

• Lay your corrugated plastic sheet (plastic cardboard) on a flat surface.

• Put the solar panel on top of the plastic sheet and cut out a section of the plastic that's the same size as the solar panel. Use the module's edges outline.

• With the cut-out plastic sheet beneath, drill through the mounting holes of the flexible module to make similar holes on the plastic cardboard.

• Cut out a circular section around the holes you made on the plastic cardboard so that the carriage bolt won’t appear bumpy on the backside.

• Clean the mounting surface with rubbing alcohol.

• Lay the corrugated plastic sheet on the clean surface.

• Cut out small pieces of the VHB tape and fix them on the corners where carriage nuts are fixed. In this way, you won't have to glue the entire panel down to hold it on the surface. Note that this makes removing the solar panels easier.

• When the plastic sheet is firm on the surface, put the flexible solar panel on top and fix it on its holes with the lock washer and the nuts.

• If you’re questioning the mount’s integrity, you can add extra tape on the corners, but again this is entirely optional.

Moving on, it’s time to use a polyurethane adhesive.

Procedure 3: Sikaflex-221 mount

Materials needed

• Sikaflex-221
• Marker

Here’s the procedure that you should follow:

1. Start by cleaning the surface where you’ll mount the solar panel.
2. Put the flexible solar panels on the surface and mark out the outline.
3. Apply your Sikaflex-221 in well-spaced lines along the length of the marked area but take care not to glue beyond the outline. In fact, I would advise you stay away from the perimeter to leave some extension space when the panel is pressed down on top.
4. Finish off with some blobs in the middle.
5. Put the solar panel on top of the glued surface and press it down for a firm fix.

Lastly, let’s look at how you can mount your flexible solar panel with an adhesive spray

Procedure 4: 3M Hi-strength 90 spray mount

Materials needed

• 3M Hi-strength 90 spray
• Marker

Here’s the procedure that you should follow:

1. Mark the area where you want to install the solar panel, clean and dry it.
2. Start off by applying a spray film on the marked area to protect the surface from the 3M Hi-strength 90 spray.
3. Now spray the 3M Hi-strength 90 spray on top of the film and wait to cure.
4. Turn your flexible solar panel and apply the adhesive on the backside.
5. Fix the glued panel on the surface and press for a firm mount.

There’ll be no air circulation space beneath the solar panels, and this can lead to overheating which is detrimental to the solar panel’s performance. Read to the end to know how to deal with this problem.

Tips to Consider when Gluing Flexible Solar Panels

Clean your solar panel

As evident in the procedures above, I emphasized cleaning the surface where the flexible solar panel is to be mounted.

You should, in the same spirit, clean the backside of the module for a perfect mount.

Mark the area where the module will be mounted

You should always mark up the area where the flexible solar panel will be mounted. This will always act as a guide to help you know the limits of the areas you should be working on.

Being accurate in a project like this is very crucial as it eliminates odd-looking mounts and wastage of the adhesive material.

Minimize your adhesive usage

When mounting your flexible solar panel, you may be tempted to apply too much adhesive, but keep in mind that you may at one point need to get the module off the surface.

I’ve seen many people complain about how glued solar panels are problematic to remove, so use your adhesive sparingly.

Be extra precise when mounting the solar panel

Laying the solar panel on the glued surface for the first time requires focused attention as any mistakes could again be hard to counter.

Remember that when the panel is glued, it can be messy and challenging to move it.

Counter check to confirm that the module is installed properly

Before calling the installation a success, always ensure that the solar panel is perfectly and firmly fixed on the surface. You don’t want the glue to start curing when the mount is imperfect.

Dealing with Air Gaps when Gluing a Flexible Solar Panel

Air gaps are a common problem for flexible solar panels mounted on cars. If a flexible solar panel is not properly mounted on the car’s roof, it can develop air under it when you drive at high speeds.

For maximum adhesion and to minimize air gaps, I recommend using a liquid adhesive at the front where the air currents are more likely to find their way in.

Ensure to spray it uniformly to cover every spot of the substrate at the front before mounting your flexible solar panel.

Please note that gluing the flexible module entirely on the surface can be problematic; their performance is generally standard.

This SunPower's 170W flexible solar panel can deliver a working voltage of 30V when glued perfectly on a well-lit surface.

Lack of airflow between the module and the metal surface is a major problem for flexible solar panels. It brings an overheating problem, which consequently lowers the module's efficiency.

But there's a solution for this:

Avoid gluing solar panels directly to the surface but lift them off slightly to allow for airflow. The plastic cardboard mount I mentioned in procedure 2 can aid in this as it improves drainage and airflow beneath the solar panels.

Maintenance and Lifespan of Glued Flexible Solar Panels

Glued flexible solar panels should serve you for around 15-25 years.

This may be below the standard lifespan of conventional modules, but considering that the initial investment is lower, they're definitely worth it.

Flexible solar panels face outdoor stresses such as strong winds and snow/ice accumulation

With a firm fix, strong winds shouldn't be a major problem for you.

To prevent snow from piling up, you may need to install a snow guard on your flexible solar panels.

Other than these 2 common problems, you just need to clean the solar panel once in a while using a mixture of dish soap and pure water.

The Correct Way to Remove Glued Flexible Solar Panels

I mentioned above that glued flexible solar panels can be challenging to remove. Even so, you may need to remove them at some point, either due to failure or for an upgrade. Below are materials you’ll need for the removal:

Materials needed

• Steel wire or old guitar string or a fishing line
• Scalpel
• Razorblade
• Scratch remover

Here’s the procedure that you should follow:

1. Use your steel wire or old guitar string or fishing line to cut through the adhesive.
2. To prevent roof damage, cut the adhesive away from the mounting surface facing the underside of the solar panel.
3. When all the bonded edges are off the adhesive, peel the solar panel gently off from the corners and lift it off.
4. Use a scalpel to remove the bulk of the adhesive remaining on the surface. Cut in a horizontal plane and as level as possible to avoid damaging the surface.
5. Use a razor blade and remove anything else that remains on the surface. Here you should go slowly and ensure that you get all the adhesive off the surface without damaging it. If it’s hard to peel off the adhesive, you can soften it with a scratch remover.

Related Questions

The Bottom Line

Gluing is by far the most effective strategy you can use to mount your flexible solar panels.

If you don’t want to drill into your roofs to install solar modules, gluing should be your go-to alternative mounting method.

There’re various ways you can use to glue your flexible, but we’ve filtered out the best, so you do a firm and long-lasting mount.

To be successful with gluing solar panels, though, you should follow all the installation tips provided in this post.

Go experiment with one of these flexible solar panel mount strategies, and you’ll have extra power to run your RV, golf cart, or boat.