Can it be true? A cheap solar panel?
October 15, 2009 by Tom GuayPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, News
Finally, a green technology’s ready for prime time that’s not only cheaper to produce, but cheap to install.
Dow Chemical Co. has announced a breakthrough in solar panel technology that dramatically drives down the cost of going green. The company has created a line of solar roofing panels that are much cheaper to produce and install than existing rigid solar arrays.
A big plus: Dow says roofing contractors don’t need any specialized skills to apply its Powerhouse™ Solar Shingles. They’re nailed to a roof just like standard asphalt shingles. All the roofer has to do is nail down the solar singles wherever the sun shines.
Potential green here? Dow’s looking at a $5 billion market by 2015 for its shingles. If Dow delivers on its promise, these things should sell like hotcakes because they can offset a home’s electric bill by 40% to 80%.
The chemical company created Dow Solar Solutions (DSS) to develop the solar shingles as part of its strategy to transform itself into a green company selling renewable energy products.
DSS managing director Jane Palmieri says the Powerhouse shingles can be handled like any other shingle. “It can be palletized, dropped from a roof, and walked on.” There’s no need for a solar installation crew because the Powerhouse shingles plug into each other to form a flat array on a roof. The only electrical work required is for an electrician to connect them to a home’s electrical system.
She says the DSS system is 10% to 15% cheaper than a rack-mounted solar array and 40% less expensive than building-integrated photovoltaic products.
The solar shingles will be manufactured in Michigan during the test marketing, which starts in 2010. The thin-film solar cell technology is supplied by Global Solar, based in Tucson, AZ.
Full details are in Dow’s announcement.
Tags: Dow Solar Solutions, Global Solar, Powerhouse, renewable energy, solar shingles
GreenandMore.com
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October 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Please put me on your list. I am in the process of building a house ans would like to incorporate this into my new place.
congratulations.
Frank Coberly
October 28th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Wow! This is incredible news, especially for homeowners looking to go green. Here in Arizona, it’s been a major issue since we have plenty of sunlight, but require a cheap way to install it. We’ll start looking into understanding solar panel installation better, so we can help homes go green too. Great article, thanks!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:03 am
It’s about time! I’m ready to cut my electric bill 40-80%. I hope this technology’s perfected and not too expensive by the time my house needs a new roof.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Can these panels be attached over an existing asphalt roof, or do they replace the roof? Great news!!!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:07 am
[...] Dow Chemical says it will introduce a new solar panel next year that will be as easy to install as everyday asphalt roofing shingles. Dow says it has developed a low-cost production technique to make solar power available by mid-2010. The company hasn’t announced pricing just yet of its Powerhouse™ Solar Shingles, but some expect the panels to be up to 40% cheaper than some rigid solar panel arrays. [...]
December 9th, 2009 at 9:23 am
[...] Dow Chemical says it will introduce a new solar panel next year that will be as easy to install as everyday asphalt roofing shingles. Dow says it has developed a low-cost production technique to make solar power available by mid-2010. The company hasn’t announced pricing just yet of its Powerhouse™ Solar Shingles, but some expect the panels to be up to 40% cheaper than some rigid solar panel arrays. [...]
January 6th, 2010 at 10:24 am
[...] Can it be true? A cheap solar panel? [...]