The Solar Drop @ GoGreenSolar.com

Fronius IG Plus hits the Street

2008-11-22T20:21:00.000-08:00

Fronius is a leading manufacturer of grid tie inverters for solar electric systems. We highlighted their new product line called the IG plus at Solar Power International 2008 last month. The company has been educating installers and retailers about their new product line and will slowly phase away the first generation Fronius IG grid tie inverter. The IG Plus has the following features that reduce and simplify the installation of their product line:

integrated DC disconnect
Power unit can be disconnected from the connection compartment, which makes it a snap to service the unit.
96% efficiency rating
compatible with more solar panels including thin film solar panels.

The new IG grid tie inverter was supposed to hit the market in mid 2007, although the company finally showcased it at Solar Power International 2008, and now we are finally seeing it offered to customers in the field. Fronius took customer feedback from their first generation grid tie inverter to develop their IG Plus product line, which is why it has all the cool features mentioned in this post. If you're considering a solar power system today, Fronius IG plus is the newest cutting edge inverter technology offered by a leading manufacturer that has a impeccable track record in the industry of producing reliable inverters.

SolarWorld makes an offer to buy Opel

2008-11-21T21:59:00.000-08:00

SolarWorld, is a leading German solar panel manufacturer made an unsolicited bid to by Opel from General Motors (GM) today, although GM refused the offer and said Opel is not up for sale. GM owns Opel, which is a German automobile brand. According to SolarWorld, they want to take the Opel brand and turn the product line exclusively into full electric and hybrid vehicles. There is room for a great partnership between solar pv panels and electric based cars. Imagine a world in which every home and business has solar panels on top of their roofs and people can charge their cars right from the power of the sun.

I think GM should sell the division to SolarWorld, because at this point they are very low on options, plus I think this is the reason GM is in the problem they are in because they are so spread thin from their core business. The management can't even make the GM brand profitable, I don't understand why they would want to hold on to brands that they just can't afford to hold onto right now. As the electric car and hybrids vehicle industry continue to move forward, we are seeing a close relationship developing with the photovoltaic industry. Should GM sell Opel to SolarWorld? What types of opportunities will this create for the future?

Stronger, Easier to Install Solar Panel Racking

2008-11-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

Make sure your solar panels aren't gone with the wind, your making a long term investment so having a reliable solar panel racking system is critical. Released in 2003 the SunFrame manufactured by UniRac has redesigned their product as a stronger and easier to install solar panel mounting frame.

The new SunFrame is compliant to the 2007 California Building Code, which minimizes your chances of running into problems with a building inspector during the final check off of your completed solar power system. Grounding your solar power system is simple with the SunFrame therefore it not only reduces your installation time but also means you have to make less penetrations thus reducing the risk of compromising the roof. The SunFrame is offered in anodized silver and black.

NegaWatts save you money.

2008-11-19T22:35:00.000-08:00

Want to lower your electric bills? Well, lets start by understanding the term"Negawatt", I promise this is going to be worth your time because you'll save thousands of dollars during your lifetime on electric expenses if you can wrap your mind around the concept. Negawatt power is a term promoted and introduced by Amory Lovins of The Rocky Mountain Institute means investing in energy efficiencies to reduce electrical consumption rather then investing in extra generation capacity can actually support the growth of electric supply by improving the efficiencies of appliances, homes or businesses rather then constructing a new power plant. In simple terms it means by saving energy, we create a "virtual power plant ", thus not having to create a new power plant to increase electrical supply. The reduction in electrical demand is called a Negawatt

For example, If the World banned all incandescent light bulbs (which are very inefficient) and only sold LED light bulbs, which is high efficient lighting, it would create a significant increase in our power supply because the demand would significantly drop. The world would create Negawatts of electricity without creating a new power plant!

Taking this theory into practice in your own home or business, its always more affordable to "reduce then produce". Solar Panels typically have a high upfront cost, but you could buy less solar panels to cover your electrical generation needs If you focused on Negawatts, energy efficiency first. There are tons of projects you can do everything from fixing the air leaks, better insulation, LED lighting, programming your thermostat, and even conducting a do-it-yourself energy audit. Producing Negawatts could be as simple as making a life style change such as developing a habit to turn the lights off when you leave the room. Please share some methods of how you produce Negawatts...

More affordable solar panels in 2009?

2008-11-18T23:13:00.000-08:00

Generally most consumers don't go solar because of the high upfront cost, but moving forward in 2009, not only are there more tax credits and other financial incentives for you to reap but the prices of solar panels are predicted to drop because of oversupply. This is great news for you as the consumer because a majority of the cost of a complete solar electric system comes from the solar panels.

The solar power industry has been growing at about 40% each year and there has been high demand for limited amount of solar panels which was one reason for the higher cost of solar panels. Now more manufacturing capacity has been deployed, therefore causing the oversupply in the market, thus dropping down the cost per watt. Do you think that more people will adopt solar power for their home or business next year? Do you think the challenges in the financial markets will slow down the growth rate of the solar power industry?

Support Electric Cars, Let the Big Three Fall

2008-11-17T23:04:00.000-08:00

Did you know over 3 million jobs will be lost if the Big Three Fail? As a clean energy supporter and free markets advocate I say SO WHAT! Not because I am a heartless soul, I do understand the human impact that will be caused by the collapse of these dysfunctional companies but because I have an insider's view of the huge opportunity in terms of vehicles that very efficient and take advantage of renewable energy, they're on the market today and getting better everyday.

The Big Three automakers (GM, Ford and Chrystler) should not get bailed out because their actions are the reasons why the automakers are in the position they are in today. Some people don't know, but GM released an electric car called the EV-1 back in 1996 which could only be leased with a clause in the contract making it impossible for the lessee to ever purchase the car! In 2003, GM decided to cancel the electric vehicle project and destroyed their fleet of electric vehicles. According to GM's CEO Rick Wagoner said the worst decision of his tenure at GM was, "axing the EV1 electric-car program and not putting the right resources into hybrids. It didn’t affect profitability, but it did affect image."

In 2007, GM R&D chief Larry Burns stated in a Newsweek article, "I wish GM did not kill the electric vehicle project and If we could turn back the hands of time we could have had the Chevy Volt 10 years earlier." The Chevy Volt is an prototype electric vehicle that GM is rushing to complete, but does not know if the Volt will ever hit the market due to GM's unstable position today.

It does not make sense..there was surging demand for the EV-1, long waiting lists, customers begging GM to buy the cars, but the automaker refused. Any savvy Business man would take the customer feedback as a sign of moving forward with a project. So why are the American automakers notorious for making fuel inefficient vehicles? It's quite obvious the Oil Industry is in bed with the Big Three Automakers.

The Toyota Prius Hybrid is the best selling fuel efficient car in the US. Although full electric vehicles being manufactured by Tesla Motors right here in the good ole USA are in high demand too. Fisker Automotive is another company that is developing a sports Hybrid. Electrorides is selling an Electric Mini Cooper and a very interesting Utility Truck called the ZeroTruck, sweet an all electric truck!

The point I'm trying to make is that there are entrepreneurial companies out there that can create a better car, that people are demanding today. If the Big Three fall, it would create a huge opportunity in the automobile market in which many new jobs would be formed, simulating the economy. People are already retrofitting hybrids with solar panels and charging up electric vehicles from solar electric systems. These new vehicles would also simulate the "new energy economy". Should we bail the US auto industry out too? Can we afford to?

Confessions of a Solar Electric System Owner

2008-11-16T21:11:00.000-08:00

Recently, Pyccku , a well respected member of the TreeHugger forums installed a solar electric system on his home and documented the progress on his blog. We discussed that it would be beneficial to share his experience installing solar panels, so his experience can help others decide if solar power systems energize their lifestyles. Check out the Questions & Answers session below:

Q: What made you first gain interest in solar panels?

A: When we saw gas prices go up, we realized that energy costs are only going to go up, not down. We also hated that here in AZ there was so much energy coming from the sun, but hardly anyone tapping into it. So we did the calculations and found that even if the cost of energy stays constant, over the next 25 years our electric bill would add up to more than the cost of the solar.

Q: How much are you saving per month?

A: We haven't gotten our first bill - but our average pre-solar bill was $165 on the equalizer plan (same amount year-round). We are anticipating having no bill for 8-10 months out of the year and only a minimal bill in the hottest summer months.

Q: How long did it take to install the solar panels?

A: Once they had the permits it took a little over a week for the whole project. The panels, inverters and wiring only took a couple of days. But we built an addition to our patio to put the panels on, so that added some extra time.

Q: Was it difficult to find a solar panel installer?

A: No, there are several here in Phoenix.

Q: How much were paying originally for electricity?

A: $165 per month.

Q: Did you have to move out of the house to have them installed?

A: No. We didn't even have to be home for them to do any of the work!

Q: How many solar panels do you have?

A: 36

Q: Do your solar panels power your entire house?

A: During most of the year, yes. During the summer we'll probably need some power from the grid because of the heavy a/c use.

Q: Did your electric spinning backwards once they were installed?

A: The meter itself doesn't spin backwards. It does keep track of how many kWh we take from the grid, and how many hours we give to the grid. Then the power company does the math and credits us for any excess. Right now, since we aren't using much power at all, we are only using 10kWh/day, and we are giving 15kWh/day to APS. That will be credited to our account for use in the months when we don't produce enough.

Q: Are you satisfied with the solar panels installed on your house?

A: Yes!

Q: Do you get credit for extra electricity your solar panels generate?

A: Yes - APS keeps track of credit and applies it when we need it.

Q: Do you like the way they look on your house?

A: Yes - they aren't noticeable from the front of the house, unless you really are looking for them.

Q: Did you have to buy any insurance for the solar panels? If so, How much?

A: It's just part of our homeowner's policy.

Q: Do you think you have made an impact on the environment and society by installing solar panels?

A: Yes.

Q: Is it difficult to take care of your solar panels?

A: No, no maintenance unless they get dirty/dusty/leaves blown on them.

Q: Do your solar panels generate energy on cloudy or overcast days?

A: Yes, but not nearly as much as on clear days.

Q: Have any of your neighbors asked you about or complemented on your solar installations?

A: Not yet. But some of my colleagues are interested.

Q: What inspired you to take the necessary steps towards obtaining solar panels?

A: Wanting to be more environmentally friendly; saving money over the long term.

Q: What kind of rebates did you receive for your solar panels?

A: $2000 federal and $1000 state. I'm hoping for more since I also have a home business, but I don't know if that will be the case or not.

Q: How did the rebate work?

A: When I do my taxes in 2008, I'll just put the solar info on the form and the credit will be applied towards the total tax owed.

National Electric Code and Solar Electric Systems.

2008-11-15T22:35:00.000-08:00

What's the National Electric Code (NEC) all about? You've probably heard this term if your considering to install solar panels yourself. The code refers to the United Standards for the safe installation of wiring and electrical equipment. The NEC is part of the fire code and is written by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) the comprehensive and authoritative safety standard includes best pratices for solar electric systems.

If you are considering installing solar electric system yourself or want to learn more about the saftey standards of installing solar pv systems, you should use the 2005 NEC code as a starting point in your jorney. You can download the NEC 2oo5, through this link.

Oncor Electric Delivery to offer Rebates for Solar

2008-11-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

Oncor is a regulated electric distribution and transmission business that provides electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, providing power to 3 million electric delivery points over more than 102,000 miles of distribution and 14,000 miles of transmission lines.

Today the company revealed details of a plan to promote solar power to its customers by offering incentives to install solar panels that produce electricity. Oncor will pay up to $2.46 per watt for residential customers to install a solar electric system up to 10 kilowatts (kW)....that's a significant rebate! Consumers will be able to

Oncor will be opening up applications to their rebate program on December 1st and they expect 200 homes and 10 businesses to be part of the solar power installation rebate program moving forward in 2009. So if your an Oncor customer and want to install solar panels and get money back for going green, make sure to mark your calender to apply on December 1st.

GoGreenSolar.com on TechZulu

2008-11-13T23:02:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share this interview with TechZulu that took place during L.A. Tech Week featuring Clean Energy last month. I was very impressed meeting some interesting people at the event, including the person responsible for the space power systems for the Mars Rover. NASA has been using solar technology for a long time and they only use solar cells that are much higher efficiencies than what we see in the consumer market.

I also interacted with a private company working on interesting technology to charge Electric Vehicles in 10 minutes with a quick battery charger. GM was showing off a hydrogen fuel cell car and of course my favorite the Tesla pure electric Roadster was also being promoted at the event. These are the cutting edge technologies that are going to change the way we view energy in the near future.

Polysilcion prices forecasted to decline in 2009

2008-11-12T23:07:00.000-08:00

Do you know what computer chips and photovoltaic solar cells have in common? They are both would not be possible without the amazing element, Silicon. Many of the solar panels on the market currently are made up of Polysilicon, which is an element in high demand in short supply thus keeping the prices of photovoltaic solar panels out of reach of the mainstream population. According to industry reports, Polysilicon supply is going to exceed the demand in 2009, which will have a direct impact on the market prices of solar panels. How much will prices of solar panels drop next year is the question on many consumers minds on the fence of going solar.

I think with the increased federal tax credit for residential customers, more state rebate programs coming online, the prices of solar panels predicted to drop, raising electric rates and the volatile stock market will create the perfect environment for a investment in solar power to be more attractive then its ever been in 2009. What do you think? With consumers cutting back on spending will this slow down the exploding solar power industry?

Trina Solar announces new Solar Panel development

2008-11-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

Trina Solar, a vertically integrated manufacturer of mono & multi crystalline solar photovoltaic panels made an announcement that they are developing a new solar panel using Upgraded Metallurgical Grade (UMG) silicon material. UMG is a mixture of various solar grade silicon although is capable of efficiencies similar to higher grade silicon. What this means to consumers is that you will see a lower price per watt for solar panels because manufactures are figuring out how get more juice out of silicon that was typically considered "lower grade".

Trina Solar will be selling these panels under a different brand name and the panels will come with a 20 year warranty. Trina Solar claims that even though they are using lower grade silicon for these solar panels they are claiming these solar panels will achieve a 14% conversion efficiency.

Xantrex solar inverters preferred in Spain.

2008-11-10T22:36:00.000-08:00

Did you know Spain has a more progressive solar market then the USA? Spain has been investing aggressively into solar energy over the years. Xantrex recently won an award for Best Quality in Elektroprofesional magazine, a solar publication in Spain. Specifically Xantrex won its award for its solar inverter line, from off grid, grid tie and 3 phase inverters. The Quality and Innovation award was suggested by 365 solar power system installers in Spain. Xantrex Solar Inverters are a popular brand used in many solar installations across the USA also. This is a great award for Xantrex because it proves that its inverters are being trusted across the globe.

"Free electricity" from the Sun claim is exaggerated.

2008-11-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing many news articles and blogs that claim once you buy solar panels you are getting "free electricity", well it's true the Sun emits free energy down to Earth everyday, but the equipment needed to harvest the "free energy" into electricity to power our lives or provide hot water for our homes requires a financial investment. In reality, until you break even on the solar power system you invested in what you have done in reality is pre-paid your energy expenses and hedged yourself from raising energy expenses. Solar Panels are very reliable because there are no moving parts, the systems can last over 30 years.

So after you break even on your solar power investment then you can truly say that the sun is supplying you with free electricity. States that offer incentives and rebates combined with the increased federal tax credit next year for solar power systems, most systems will break even faster moving forward in 2009. Solar Power will become a more sought after investment. How do you feel about people making claims about solar panels giving you "free electricity"? Please discuss!

Surging demand for Nevada's RenewableGenerations rebate program

2008-11-08T21:26:00.000-08:00

The citizen's of Nevada have spoken in support of NV Energy's RenewableGenerations rebate program which gives homeowners, businesses, public buildings and schools a generous rebate for installing solar panels, wind power systems. Agriculture customers can also qualify for a hydroelectric rebate. Below is a quick overview of the rebates available for each technology.

SolarGenerations Rebate Program:

Residential: $2.30 per watt $11,500 maximum rebate

Small Business: $2.30 per watt $69,000 maximum rebate

Schools: $4.60 per Watt

Public Buildings: $4.60 per watt

WindGenerations Rebate Program:

Residential, small business, agriculture: $2.50 per watt up to 10 kW $1.50 watt above 10 kW

Schools and Public Buildings: $3.00/watt up to 10 kW $2.00/watt above 10 kW

HydroGenerations Rebate Program:

All agricultural, grid-connected customers: $2.50 per watt

962 citizens of Nevada filed an application for the rebate program, majority of the applicants are installing residential grid tie solar power systems. Cumulatively, Nevada is developing 9.3MW of solar, wind and hydroelectric projects, thanks to the rebate program.

Regions of the USA in which states force the utilities to give rebates to their customers to install renewable energy power generation systems is where solar and wind power systems thrive. Currently, NV Energy's SolarGenerations and HydroGenenrations program has closed, although they will start to take additional applications soon. The WindGenerations program is still open for applications. To date, NV Energy has paid its customers 7 million dollars

Not located in Nevada? Don't worry, there might be a rebate program in your neck of the woods, be sure to check out the DSIRE website to learn more about state and federal rebates to install solar panels and wind turbines.

The Gatsby Hollywood - L.A.'s first solar powered community

2008-11-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

The Gatsby Hollywood an eco-friendly community development right in the heart of Hollywood is being developed by MasterCraft Homes is going to be L.A.'s first solar powered community. The developer decided to install grid tie solar power systems on all the single family homes in the community. L.A. is a great place to install solar power not only because of its high solar intensity through out the year, but California has great rebates for people and organizations that install grid tie solar power systems. Grid tied systems, unlike off grid systems, store extra energy generated back to the utility service and spins your electric meter backwards giving you the ability to completely offset your usage.

The owners of the solar powered homes at The Gatsby will be able to monitor the performance of their solar panels via the Internet and will come with a service for 10 years that monitors the performance of the system remotely. The homes at The Gatsby will also include energy efficient appliances which are Energy Star certified meaning each home will be using technologies that do not waste electricity. These solar powered homes are Certified California Green Builder approved not only because they have a slick grid tie solar electric system but the homes feature dual pane windows, top of the line insulation, high efficiency light bulbs and the homes themselves are made out of recycled materials. As we see more home builders integrating solar panels and energy efficient technologies this will start a trend that will become a standard for all buildings in the near future. What do you think?

Open Energy Pushing Forward Despite Housing Downturn

2008-11-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

The housing market may be tanking in the U.S., but Open Energy, a manufacturer of building integrated PV (BIPV) products is preparing for the BIPV market to take off in a big way in the coming years. New residential construction is down almost a third since this time last year. While Open Energy has seen a drop in business recently that has coincided with this downturn, the company is also seeing more contractors think about integrating solar into their business practices. The number of traditional builders and roofers approaching the business leads CEO David Field to believe that companies like Open Energy are starting to take market share from the existing construction industry, rather than creating new, separate business. The housing market got us into the financial crisis that we're experiencing today – but will it get play a role in getting the solar industry moving in a big way? Check out an interview with Open Energy's David Field and a few other interviews on this week's Inside Renewable Renewable Energy podcast for more on the subject.

LED - High efficiency light Bulbs save you money

2008-11-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

Many people dream of eliminating their entire electric bill by using solar panels or putting up a wind turbine, although that dream is out of their reach because of the high upfront related with an energy hog's electric consumption. When you are energy inefficient, eliminating your energy can be associated with a very high upfront cost. Although you have the power to reduce your consumption by looking into energy efficiency there are product out there such as EarthLED high efficiency light bulbs that can reduce your consumption significantly and save you lots of money on electricity costs. LED light bulbs are very reliable, many people don't know that the average lifetime of a LED bulb is over 10 years! Imagine just the cost savings of not having to replace a bulb for the next 10 years. LED consume only a couple watts of electricity, therefore only cost a couple dollars in electricity costs to run the entire year and their are just as bright at traditional light bulbs.

The case study above shows a building that replaced 1100 light bulbs with EarthLEDs, not only did the building actually lower the temperature in the building by a couple degrees, but the amazing aspect is that they are saving 450kWh a day! Based on the cost of electricity of 10 cents per kWh and comparing it to the total cost of 1,100 EarthLEDs the building would break even within 5 years on their investment. The calculation did not include the cost of changing light bulbs or factor in energy inflation and rebates received for high efficiency light bulbs, with those variables factored in we're looking at a break even point lower than 5 years.

Why not CFLs? Well, CFLs have a lower upfront cost, although they also include mercury with is a pollutant that is bad for the environment and CFL light bulbs are not as efficient as LEDs, plus you have to replace CFL light bulbs more often. Taking those points into consideration, the LED light bulb does make more environmental and economic sense.

Lighting is typically 10% of the electrical demand of a building, by using LED lights to lower your consumption first in the future you would need to buy less solar panels or wind turbines to eliminate your electricity bill. It's always more affordable to reduce energy consumption then produce your own. Solar Panels and LED lights make a very cost effective partnership. So what do you think about LED bulbs? looking forward to your discussion!

Lead Acid Battery 101

2008-11-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

Considering a off-grid or grid-tie with battery backup solar panel or wind power system? Well make sure the batteries you purchase are deep cycle. Lead Acid Batteries are common with renewable energy systems because their upfront cost is lower and they are available worldwide. There are many sizes and capacities of lead acid batteries to meet the needs of your solar panel system but the most important difference is to understand the difference between shallow cycle and deep cycle batteries. Shallow cycle batteries are not meant to be discharged more than 20%, otherwise the lifetime of the battery will be very short, therefore you will have to replace the battery very often and do not make a good choice for a solar power system.

Deep cycle batteries on the other hand are designed to be discharged by as much as 80% of their rated capacity, therefore they are a cost effective fit for a solar panel system because they will last much longer then your typical shallow cycle battery. Letting any type of lead acid battery remained fully discharged for days at a time can permanently damage the battery and can cause a loss of charging capacity. Therefore if you are considering a system with batteries, be prepared to maintain and keep an eye on the battery bank to make sure its being charged. With proper care deep cycle lead acid batteries will have a long service life and will be compatible with most power generation systems such as solar panels or wind turbines although with poor treatment and lack of maintenance the battery life will be very short.

Many customers who have electric service want to go "off-grid" but don't really understand what they are getting themselves into when working with batteries. Off-grid solar and wind power systems should be used in areas where there is no access to electric service. If you currently have electrical service at your home or small business you are better off purchasing a grid tie solar power system or a grid tie wind turbine. Grid-connected systems often break even faster and require less maintenance because these types of systems require no batteries.

Any extra energy produced is stored right into the gird and the utility gives you credit for future use of that electricity. Potentially you can develop a system that can offset 100% of your yearly electrical usage, basically zero out the amount you are charged for electricity consumption. Connecting your system to the utility gird is called "Net-Metering". If your considering a small battery for backup power, you might want to consider the Xantrex Xpower 1500, which deep cycle battery with a built in inverter, it can help you get started with backup power safely and for a low upfront cost.

Solar panel nanocoating increases efficiency by 30 percent.

2008-11-04T23:01:00.000-08:00

Typical silicon solar panels you see on the market today soak up two thirds of the sunlight that hits the solar panel. Researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a coating that can help solar panels soak up more then 96% of the sunlight that hits the panel. Traditionally solar panels perform the best when the sunlight is directly shining on them, although with the development of the coating, it allows a solar panel to collect energy from all angels, thus improving the efficiency significantly.

The nanocoating pictured above overcomes two major obstacles blocking the progress and wider use of solar power. One, the coating increases the amount of sunlight captured by solar panels and two, allows those panel with the special coating to absorb the entire spectrum of sunlight from any angle, regardless of the sun’s position. The key aspect of the nanocoating is that it creates an anti reflective effective that helps solar panels soak up more sun.

The amazing aspect of this research is that since the nanocoating can help solar panels collect energy from any angles, this breakthrough has the potential to eliminate solar trackers which main purpose is to keep the solar panel pitch in line with the path of the sun. The nanocoating is still in the research & development stage, at this time there is no road maps for commercial development of this technology, so don't expect this new coating on the solar panels on the market soon. Although we are glad to see these types of game changing technologies being funded and tested to hit the market in the near future.

OCS Energy automates solar panel cleaning

2008-11-03T21:05:00.000-08:00

We recently talked about why its important for anyone who owns a solar photovoltaic system to keep the panels clean, we even recommended a product called PowerBoost Solar Panel Cleaner, which is great for solar panels on a home or small business. But how about the large commercial or industrial fields in which hundreds or thousands of solar panels are installed. Until today, large scale solar array owners were helpless, OCS Energy has created an interesting product called the SolarWash, which is the first commercial automated photovoltaic (PV) cleaning system. The first of its kind product increases energy output and shortens the return on investment of investments in large solar power systems according to the company.

The SolarWash unit attaches directly to the solar panel and is controlled by a microprocessor giving the solar power system operator the ability to automatically clean the entire solar array with a push of a button! The complete solar panel cleaning system includes maintenance free water nozzles, web based software interface, and a programmable logic controller.

This type of automation not only helps solar become a more attractive for large scale system deployments, but shows how much room for innovation there is in the industry. As more companies start developing add-on products to improve the efficiency will help push solar power mainstream. Now I wonder how long it will take until a company develops a similar system for residential and small commercial solar power installations. Isn't this such a simple, innovative yet effective product? please discuss!

Purchase a Skystream 3.7, get up to $4,000 in tax incentives

2008-11-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

Southwest Windpower, a leading manufacturer of small scale wind turbines such as the SkyStream 3.7 grid tie wind power system played a huge role in the passage of the new legislation which offers a federal tax credit for qualified small scale wind turbines. The landmark legislation was part of the economic bailout bill passed in early October 2008 and is a major leap for small wind industry because this is the first federal incentive for small wind power systems since 1985. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for small scale wind will be available for wind generators installed through 2016 and will give the small scale wind power system owner up to $4,000 federal tax credit.

Andy Kruse, founder of Southwest Windpower fought tirelessly in congress to make sure Small Scale Wind Power Systems were included in the extension of the renewable energy ITC. The result of the legislation's success will provide thousands of new jobs and harbor an environment which would generate a 40% annual growth rate of the small scale wind industry. To you, the person who is considering a small scale wind turbine like the Skystream 3.7 the new tax credit reduces the total upfront cost of installing a small scale wind power system, making the technology more affordable for people in the USA. What do you think about this legislation? Will it entice you to produce your own clean energy?

Suniva's 20% Efficent Solar Cell

2008-11-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

Suniva, a newer entrant in the photovoltaic solar cell market claims its Research & Development team has created a solar cell that is capable of 20% efficiency using a simple cell design and screen printing technologies. The company backs up their claim by having their technology verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). According to Suniva's Founder & CTO, the company increase conversion efficiency while reducing processing time and achieving low costs. Suniva, manufacturers and markets its high efficiency solar cells under the ARTisun brand name which focuses on an intersection between high effiecncey and low cost.

What does this mean to you? The purpose of this blog is to first understand how important solar cell technology is the overall adoption rate of solar photovoltaic technology, as the efficiencies increase and costs decrease, that means more affordable solar panels that break even quicker, this trend in technology will eventually be responsible for mass adoption of solar panels. Typically a group of solar cells make up a solar panel (module), check out my previous post titled, "Solar Arrays Explained" to understand how individual solars cells become a solar array.

Solar Panels and Pumpkins? Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

Boooo! Today is Halloween, millions of people across the US are going to enjoy pillow cases overflowing with candy and the ghouls n' ghosts are going to come out at night. This year is going to be different because more people are using renewable energy to get them through the night. Trick or Treaters need flash lights to stay safe in the dark, this year more people are using solar powered flash lights, charge it up during the day and use it all night. Combining solar with LED light bulbs can be a very effective combination, since LEDs are very efficent, they only use up a couple watts, a small solar panel could power could provide enough power for a night of trick or treatin'.

The solar Halloween pumpkin statue is another example of how people are using small solar panels and LED lights to power up their pumpkins this year. Its quite simple how it works, the solar powered pumpkin has a rechargeable battery enough to power the LED inside the pumpkin and will automatically turn on at sunset, glow for up to 8 hours if fully charged during the day. Generally, one of the biggest advantages of using LED light bulbs is their long life time, the LED within the pumpkin has a lifetime of 100,000 hours!

Another interesting story I heard between the relationship of renewable energy and Halloween on this week's Inside Renewable Energy Podcast by Stephen Lacey of RenewableEnergyWorld.com featured a special guest named Jake, a 9 year old who decided to dress up as "BioFuel Man" to educate others about the benefits of renewable energy on Halloween in his community. How amazing is that?

The purpose of this post is to point out the little applications and grass roots promotion in the local community level of renewable energy end up making a big impact. For example, many people who don't understand how solar power works, could have a basic understanding by just looking into a solar powered pumpkin. The end goal would be just to get them to thinking about how renewable energy can be applied to other aspects of their lives, such as using solar panels to power their homes or filling up their tanks with renewable fuels.

Happy Halloween! Stay Safe.

More people are installing solar panels and wind turbines

2008-10-30T23:01:00.000-07:00

According to an article, titled "Private wind power, solar pan use grows" by Andrew Ostroski a staff writer for Del Marva Now states that more private residences are turning their homes into power plants through solar panel and wind power technology. Andrew states that renewable energy in Del Marva, a coastal community is becoming a more popular option for homes. Solar Panels and Wind turbines are showing up around the city, although home owners still had a challenge installing wind turbines due to city zoning law.

The article interviews a couple of Del Marva residents who have either installed wind power systems or solar panels on their property and the most interesting interview note was the fact that a resident points out that there is a common misconception about wind turbines being noisy, although the resident points out that small scale wind turbines are often more silent then air conditioners. I think in 2009, since the US federal government removed the $2,000 cap on residential solar power system installations, we'll finally see more private residences right here in the USA with renewable energy technologies.