Comments on: Solar Power Goes to Extremes for 5 Cents per kWh http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/ Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: GEORGE http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-70 GEORGE Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:42:33 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-70 $ PER UNIT? MINIMUM TO BUY? COST OF S$H TO USA-PR-00678-0931? TKS IN ADVANCE? $ PER UNIT?

MINIMUM TO BUY?

COST OF S$H TO USA-PR-00678-0931?

TKS IN ADVANCE?

]]> By: Solar Book http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-69 Solar Book Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:15:42 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-69 This is exciting technology, but I suspect that these solar concentrators will be targetted at specific niche products rather than being available for general use for some time to come. The reason is down to the installation. Get it wrong with a normal solar panel and at worst you'll get decreased performance and less electricity than you may expect. Get it wrong with solar concentrators and you risk burning down your building... For that reason, expect to see solar concentrators being used in specialist applications. Powering vending machines, or providing lighting to a bus stop canopy for example. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't get excited about solar concentrators - we should. We just shouldn't expect them to be the answer for every solar problem we have at the moment. Meanwhile, if you really want to get excited about low cost solar - here is some exciting news: the trade price for amorphous solar panels in the Far East is now down to just over the $1 a watt mark. Competitively priced solar panels that can be used on normal household projects by enthusiasts is definately coming... This is exciting technology, but I suspect that these solar concentrators will be targetted at specific niche products rather than being available for general use for some time to come.

The reason is down to the installation. Get it wrong with a normal solar panel and at worst you’ll get decreased performance and less electricity than you may expect. Get it wrong with solar concentrators and you risk burning down your building…

For that reason, expect to see solar concentrators being used in specialist applications. Powering vending machines, or providing lighting to a bus stop canopy for example.

That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t get excited about solar concentrators – we should. We just shouldn’t expect them to be the answer for every solar problem we have at the moment.

Meanwhile, if you really want to get excited about low cost solar – here is some exciting news: the trade price for amorphous solar panels in the Far East is now down to just over the $1 a watt mark. Competitively priced solar panels that can be used on normal household projects by enthusiasts is definately coming…

]]> By: Solar Book http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-17387 Solar Book Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:15:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-17387 This is exciting technology, but I suspect that these solar concentrators will be targetted at specific niche products rather than being available for general use for some time to come. The reason is down to the installation. Get it wrong with a normal solar panel and at worst you'll get decreased performance and less electricity than you may expect. Get it wrong with solar concentrators and you risk burning down your building... For that reason, expect to see solar concentrators being used in specialist applications. Powering vending machines, or providing lighting to a bus stop canopy for example. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't get excited about solar concentrators - we should. We just shouldn't expect them to be the answer for every solar problem we have at the moment. Meanwhile, if you really want to get excited about low cost solar - here is some exciting news: the trade price for amorphous solar panels in the Far East is now down to just over the $1 a watt mark. Competitively priced solar panels that can be used on normal household projects by enthusiasts is definately coming... This is exciting technology, but I suspect that these solar concentrators will be targetted at specific niche products rather than being available for general use for some time to come.

The reason is down to the installation. Get it wrong with a normal solar panel and at worst you’ll get decreased performance and less electricity than you may expect. Get it wrong with solar concentrators and you risk burning down your building…

For that reason, expect to see solar concentrators being used in specialist applications. Powering vending machines, or providing lighting to a bus stop canopy for example.

That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t get excited about solar concentrators – we should. We just shouldn’t expect them to be the answer for every solar problem we have at the moment.

Meanwhile, if you really want to get excited about low cost solar – here is some exciting news: the trade price for amorphous solar panels in the Far East is now down to just over the $1 a watt mark. Competitively priced solar panels that can be used on normal household projects by enthusiasts is definately coming…

]]> By: green http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-68 green Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:53:04 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-68 what if the solar panels were part steel or steel with spray on type solar panels i believe this tecnology is out there and could possibly be intergrated just a thought what if the solar panels were part steel or steel with spray on type solar panels i believe this tecnology is out there and could possibly be intergrated just a thought

]]> By: green http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-17386 green Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:53:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-17386 what if the solar panels were part steel or steel with spray on type solar panels i believe this tecnology is out there and could possibly be intergrated just a thought what if the solar panels were part steel or steel with spray on type solar panels i believe this tecnology is out there and could possibly be intergrated just a thought

]]> By: Frank Randall http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-67 Frank Randall Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:57:29 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-67 The Aussies did not beat us to it. Amonix has been doing this for years. The Aussies did not beat us to it. Amonix has been doing this for years.

]]> By: Frank Randall http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-17385 Frank Randall Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:57:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-17385 The Aussies did not beat us to it. Amonix has been doing this for years. The Aussies did not beat us to it. Amonix has been doing this for years.

]]> By: Micah http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-66 Micah Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:13:48 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-66 Maybe I am missing someting here, but is the company claiming a new type of PV transducer? If you have a module which collects energy from the sun (photons) over a given surface area and concentrates them via a lens onto a small transducer, then surely you would only get an efficiency gain over a conventional nultiple PV cells using the same collection area if either a) the PV cell operated in a more efficient region of its characteristic transduction curve at the higher energy level b) you used an alternate (more efficient) PV type which needs the higher energy level to function. If the PV cells are 'normal' ones and a) above is true, then there is clearly a potential per module cost saving by reducing the number of cells used I guess, but I don't get from this article what the essential advance claimed here is. Maybe I am missing someting here, but is the company claiming a new type of PV transducer?

If you have a module which collects energy from the sun (photons) over a given surface area and concentrates them via a lens onto a small transducer, then surely you would only get an efficiency gain over a conventional nultiple PV cells using the same collection area if either

a) the PV cell operated in a more efficient region of its characteristic transduction curve at the higher energy level

b) you used an alternate (more efficient) PV type which needs the higher energy level to function.

If the PV cells are ‘normal’ ones and a) above is true, then there is clearly a potential per module cost saving by reducing the number of cells used I guess, but I don’t get from this article what the essential advance claimed here is.

]]> By: Micah http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-17384 Micah Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:13:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-17384 Maybe I am missing someting here, but is the company claiming a new type of PV transducer? If you have a module which collects energy from the sun (photons) over a given surface area and concentrates them via a lens onto a small transducer, then surely you would only get an efficiency gain over a conventional nultiple PV cells using the same collection area if either a) the PV cell operated in a more efficient region of its characteristic transduction curve at the higher energy level b) you used an alternate (more efficient) PV type which needs the higher energy level to function. If the PV cells are 'normal' ones and a) above is true, then there is clearly a potential per module cost saving by reducing the number of cells used I guess, but I don't get from this article what the essential advance claimed here is. Maybe I am missing someting here, but is the company claiming a new type of PV transducer?

If you have a module which collects energy from the sun (photons) over a given surface area and concentrates them via a lens onto a small transducer, then surely you would only get an efficiency gain over a conventional nultiple PV cells using the same collection area if either

a) the PV cell operated in a more efficient region of its characteristic transduction curve at the higher energy level

b) you used an alternate (more efficient) PV type which needs the higher energy level to function.

If the PV cells are ‘normal’ ones and a) above is true, then there is clearly a potential per module cost saving by reducing the number of cells used I guess, but I don’t get from this article what the essential advance claimed here is.

]]> By: Karl http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-65 Karl Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:13:23 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/10/solar-power-goes-to-extremes-for-5cents-per-watt/#comment-65 I'm skeptical about the 37.5% efficiency rating. Crystalline PV modules lose ~.5% efficiency per degree Celsius above their rated output (standard test conditions at 25 degrees C. As the substrate heats up, the losses would be considerable. This is not a new idea as stated in a prior post. Also, modules would degrade far more quickly at these temperatures and replacement would eat into that 5 cents/kwh rating. With federal and state subsidies here in California the best plan of attack is still the standard crystalline module with a payoff of 7-10 years and a 50+ year lifespan. I’m skeptical about the 37.5% efficiency rating. Crystalline PV modules lose ~.5% efficiency per degree Celsius above their rated output (standard test conditions at 25 degrees C. As the substrate heats up, the losses would be considerable. This is not a new idea as stated in a prior post. Also, modules would degrade far more quickly at these temperatures and replacement would eat into that 5 cents/kwh rating. With federal and state subsidies here in California the best plan of attack is still the standard crystalline module with a payoff of 7-10 years and a 50+ year lifespan.

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