Re: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra

[Kirk Herander, VSE]

 

From: Kirk Herander, VSE [mailto:k...@vtsolar.com] 
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 8:08 AM
To: 'Darryl Thayer'
Subject: RE: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra

 

Thanks. Despite Solyndra claims of an 80% increase in power over flat
panels, I don't see how they can outperform Sanyo or Sunpower modules
(approaching 20% efficiency) when thin film is what, 11-12% at best,
regardless of how much reflected light they capture. In addition, the
Solyndra 190 watt panel power density is only 8.99 w/ ft2, Sanyo HIT is
15.85 w/ft2.

 

Kirk Herander

Vermont Solar Engineering

802.863.1202

NABCEP(tm) Certified Solar Installer

NYSERDA-eligible Installer

VT Solar Incentive Program Partner

  _  

From: Darryl Thayer [mailto:daryl_so...@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 6:02 PM
To: k...@vtsolar.com
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra

 


I have one system I will try to dig out some data, customer is measuring it
supposedly  If I have any thing to say I will send to you and possibly the
list. 
dt

--- On Thu, 6/3/10, Kirk Herander, VSE  wrote:


From: Kirk Herander, VSE 
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra
To: "'RE-wrenches'" 
Date: Thursday, June 3, 2010, 4:03 PM

Anyone out there nave experience with these thin film cylindrical "panels"?
Thanks.

 

Kirk Herander

Vermont Solar Engineering

802.863.1202

NABCEP(tm) Certified Solar Installer

NYSERDA-eligible Installer

VT Solar Incentive Program Partner

 


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[RE-wrenches] Solyndra

[Kirk Herander, VSE]

Anyone out there nave experience with these thin film cylindrical "panels"?
Thanks.

 

Kirk Herander

Vermont Solar Engineering

802.863.1202

NABCEP(tm) Certified Solar Installer

NYSERDA-eligible Installer

VT Solar Incentive Program Partner

 

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[RE-wrenches] SOLYNDRA DANGEROUS GLASS?

[Tom Lane]

SOLYNDRA  --what type of glass is SOLYNDRA made of ? It is illegal to use
annealed glass on roofs -facades-  skylights- awnings etc. -ONLY TEMPERED
SAFETY GLASS THAT BREAKS SAFETLY INTO MINI PIECES CAN BE USED IN
CONSTRUCTION ON ROOFS. There is nothing special about solar  collectors that
exempts  the solar industry from safety laws regarding the use of glass in
construction . The IAMPO 2006 SOLAR CODE SAYS THAT ONLY TEMPERED GLASS CAN
BE USED IN SOLAR COLLECTORS. Annealed glass breaks into dangerous  razor
sharp dagger like spears when it breaks.   SOLYNDRA statement that a curved
surface collects more energy than a flat surface is absurd. Please have
someone at SOLYNDRA take a course in geometry and learn what the ANGLE OF
INCIDENCE TO THE GLASS MEANS. I T IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A CURVED SURFACE THAT
COVERS THE SAME AREA TO COLLECT AS MUCH ENERGY AS A FLAT SURFACE.  Even at
solar noon at 0 angle of incidence to a flat surface ONLY THE 10 TO 2
O'CLOCK POSTION IS AT an  EXCELLENT ANGLE OF INCIDENCE ! As the sun moves
off due south or the collector surface moves off due south   - evacuated
tubes or any curved surface is at a disadvantage  to a flat surface.  Gator
tom

Tom Lane

Energy Conservation Services

6120 SW 13th ST, Gainesville, FL 32608

(352) 377-8866  F (352) 338-0056

Give Your Sun A Job  

 

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra

[Geoff Greenfield]

Hi Keith-  check the archives... there was some chatter on this a few months 
back, and the biggest concern was their "racking" system and wrench concerns 
about what a nice kite it could make.  Other than that I echo Bill's concerns 
about longevity. 



This type of innovation is part of what makes us (eventually) better... but at 
the same time it creates confusion among the customer-base (why go solar now 
when there is a better/cheaper solution around the corner).  If hear here one 
more "...but what about nano-solar?  I heard I can just paint it on my roof..." 
I will pop a breaker! 

For a brighter energy future, 

Geoff Greenfield 
President 
Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd. 
340 West State Street, Unit 25 
Athens, OH 45701 

740.597.3111     Fax 740.597.1548 
www.Third-Sun.com 

Clean Energy - Expertly Installed 






- "Bill Brooks"  wrote: 
> 
> 

Keith, 



Since it seems quite quiet on this subject, I have to ask why a SHARP guy like 
you would consider such a rounded or Solindrical technology. Actually, I have 
heard through the grape vine that their products have an interesting 
performance characteristic in that their output looks similar to a single-axis 
tracker—which makes sense—sounds good. 



The must larger issue than the short-term performance of the product is the 
longevity. Nobody has a clue on that item—not even the manufacturer. I’m sure 
they have put it through torture tests, but the real world is a different 
story. Not sure they have seen the sun for more than a few years. I hope it 
works out for them and it becomes a viable part of the PV industry. I, for one, 
will be cheering from the sidelines. 



Bill. 





-Original Message- 
> From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org 
> [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Keith Cronin 
> Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:05 PM 
> To: RE-Wrenches 
> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra 





http://www.solyndra.com/ 
> 
> Anyone have any feedback on these folks and their products? 
> 
> 


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Re: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra

[Keith Cronin]

William

I appreciate the sentiment. To understand the genesis of the query, we must 
look to the analogousness of watching Sunday nights 60 Minutes TV program. 
Every week, for years, there are commercials on relating to all sorts of 
pharmacology which inspires an individual to ask their doctor (and sometimes 
educate them) about using such and such a product for their "condition". The 
public at times has more info than the doctor..Knowing a few doctors, they 
have expressed this to me over the years and it "encourages" them to do some 
research as they get caught off guard

The same holds true for Solyndra (our SolViagra/Flowmax etc.). Customers 
stumble upon this type of product, and pelt us with questions. I pinged 
Solyndra a few times via email and phone with no reply. Seems they are angling 
towards the roofing contracting community, sewing up relationships with 
Carlilse, the roofing manu as a channel for distribution. So, trying to be 
helpful, and doing my (our) best to dig into the details and provide some 
feedback for the query. The enthusiasm of virtually zero roof penetrations and 
all of the other claims, whether substantiated or not, require some 
research..

As we all have looked at a Popular Science as youths, there will always be a 
new solar promising technology to breach the scene and it is our fiduciary 
responsibility to identify the pros and cons to support our industry in the 
determination of its efficacy. If we don't at least discover what is around the 
corner, we have the propensity to miss the trend. Sure we need to concern 
ourselves with longevity, but the MTBF of even the enphase products is unproven 
and accelerated, but is very promising and catching alot of positive waves. 
Even at 90 cents a watt installed, almost double what a comprable string 
inverter is being peddled for, the perceived features and benefits have caught 
alot of attention of the end user and appear willing to fork over a premium for 
the telemetry and diagnostics. To me, this is an excellent accountability 
mechanism- from the manu of the modules to the integrators design as well as 
historical harvesting of data to support a
 future world of smart meters and other spine tingling technologies not even 
hallucinated about to date





From: Bill Brooks 
To: RE-wrenches 
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:57:41 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra

 
Keith,
 
Since it seems quite quiet on this subject,
I have to ask why a SHARP guy like you would consider such a rounded or 
Solindrical
technology. Actually, I have heard through the grape vine that their products
have an interesting performance characteristic in that their output looks
similar to a single-axis tracker—which makes sense—sounds good.
 
The must larger issue than the short-term
performance of the product is the longevity. Nobody has a clue on that item—not
even the manufacturer. I’m sure they have put it through torture tests,
but the real world is a different story. Not sure they have seen the sun for
more than a few years. I hope it works out for them and it becomes a viable
part of the PV industry. I, for one, will be cheering from the sidelines.
 
Bill.
 
 
-Original Message-
From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Keith Cronin
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
12:05 PM
To: RE-Wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra
 
http://www.solyndra.com/

Anyone have any feedback on these folks and their products?


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Re: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra

[Bill Brooks]

Keith,

 

Since it seems quite quiet on this subject, I have to ask why a SHARP guy
like you would consider such a rounded or Solindrical technology. Actually,
I have heard through the grape vine that their products have an interesting
performance characteristic in that their output looks similar to a
single-axis tracker-which makes sense-sounds good.

 

The must larger issue than the short-term performance of the product is the
longevity. Nobody has a clue on that item-not even the manufacturer. I'm
sure they have put it through torture tests, but the real world is a
different story. Not sure they have seen the sun for more than a few years.
I hope it works out for them and it becomes a viable part of the PV
industry. I, for one, will be cheering from the sidelines.

 

Bill.

 

 

-Original Message-
From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Keith Cronin
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:05 PM
To: RE-Wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra

 

http://www.solyndra.com/

Anyone have any feedback on these folks and their products?



 

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[RE-wrenches] Solyndra

[Keith Cronin]

http://www.solyndra.com/

Anyone have any feedback on these folks and their products?


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Re: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra solar panels

[Jeff Clearwater, Village Power Design]

Hi All,

Their website video and literature claims they don't need any 
tie-downs or ballast.  That I'd like to believe!  Hard to imagine 
that'll fly. (or more like I can imagine them flying off the roof!)


Jeff



They are new and cylindrical.

Bill.

-Original Message-
From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Bob Clark
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 6:31 AM
To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra solar panels

WRENCHES:

Does anyone know anything about Solyndra solar panels
(http://www.solyndra.com/Products/More-Electricity)?

Bob Clark

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--
~
Jeff Clearwater
Senior Design Engineer
NABCEP (tm) Certified Solar PV Installer
http://www.nabcep.org/
Village Power Design/NorthEast Solar Design
Turnkey Solar Design & Installation for the Commercial Sector
http://www.villagepower.com
goso...@villagepower.com

Voice: 413-259-3750
Fax: 413-825-0703
65 Schoolhouse Rd
Amherst, MA 01002
~
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra solar panels

[Bill Brooks]

They are new and cylindrical.

Bill.

-Original Message-
From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Bob Clark
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 6:31 AM
To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solyndra solar panels

WRENCHES:

Does anyone know anything about Solyndra solar panels
(http://www.solyndra.com/Products/More-Electricity)?

Bob Clark

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[RE-wrenches] Solyndra solar panels

[Bob Clark]

WRENCHES:

Does anyone know anything about Solyndra solar panels
(http://www.solyndra.com/Products/More-Electricity)?

Bob Clark
bcl...@solar-wind.us
 
 

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