The Next Generation of Alternative Energy: Plug and Play Solar Panels
Want solar power on the cheap? Veranda Solar may be able to help. The company’s innovative panel design requires only a screwdriver and a standard home outlet. At $600, the panel is much more affordable than many of its competitors.
Veranda says that its product can be affixed to windows, gutters, and balconies in “plug and play style”– so the panels snap together and can be plugged in directly to an outlet. If you decide that a single panel isn’t enough to fulfill your power needs, springing for additional snap-on panels at $450 a pop isn’t too much of a stretch.
The company’s panels aren’t yet on the market, but a 100,000 Euro prize from the PICNIC Green Challenge has sped up the production process. According to Veranda, panels and flexible inverters should be available by the end of 2009.
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I would be interested in how much electricity you can get from these. Could the $ per watt be good? And you just plug it in? That is pretty crazy awesome if it turns out to be real.
I would be interested in how much electricity you can get from these. Could the $ per watt be good? And you just plug it in? That is pretty crazy awesome if it turns out to be real.
@Steve – I wondered the same thing myself – hopefully we’ll find out soon enough when the product is released.
How much price per Watt of the solar panel?
How much price per Watt of the solar panel?
Perfect for the dryer. (Have to go back to electric dryers.)
Its pretty expensive per Watt if it is only 1 to 4 cells (like it looks) for $450!
But that is balanced by how effective it can be for the big three in any home: the fridge and the dryer and the plasma tv. Would really cut the use back by just plugging in the 3 worst hogs.
Perfect for the dryer. (Have to go back to electric dryers.)
Its pretty expensive per Watt if it is only 1 to 4 cells (like it looks) for $450!
But that is balanced by how effective it can be for the big three in any home: the fridge and the dryer and the plasma tv. Would really cut the use back by just plugging in the 3 worst hogs.
I am wondering what they mean by a ‘standard home outlet’ and how they tie in to the electric circuitry of the home. My opinion is that anytime you can ‘plug-n-play’ electronics you really are on the right track. It reminds me of building computers from the motherboard up. Components really just plug in. You just have to make sure they are compatible with each other.
I am wondering what they mean by a ‘standard home outlet’ and how they tie in to the electric circuitry of the home. My opinion is that anytime you can ‘plug-n-play’ electronics you really are on the right track. It reminds me of building computers from the motherboard up. Components really just plug in. You just have to make sure they are compatible with each other.
I don’t think this is going to be getting anyone off-grid anytime soon, but it’s great to see accessible solar power that will get people considering renewable energy.
I don’t think this is going to be getting anyone off-grid anytime soon, but it’s great to see accessible solar power that will get people considering renewable energy.
It’s not the price itself, but the price per watt, and durability.
How much power will I be able to gain foom the device for the price I pay?
This is a minimal information, probably not enough, but at very least this information is needed.
It’s not the price itself, but the price per watt, and durability.
How much power will I be able to gain foom the device for the price I pay?
This is a minimal information, probably not enough, but at very least this information is needed.
Something like this is exactly what I was looking for. I am in the process of making a documentary on living off the grid in the forests of northern Minnesota. Thanks for the stumble. BTW I’ve read a few of your posts and I sorta have a crush.
cheers,
HappyHippy
Something like this is exactly what I was looking for. I am in the process of making a documentary on living off the grid in the forests of northern Minnesota. Thanks for the stumble. BTW I’ve read a few of your posts and I sorta have a crush.
cheers,
HappyHippy
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