Affordable solar panels!

[BMAN]

Just on the horizon? Now this will be cool! Both on the truck and at home.

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/green/item_59.html

 

[Ursidae69]

I can't wait until this technology gets more affordable. :lurk:

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

http://www.nanosolar.com/pr5.htm

I've been watching this company for a while now.....hoping they will go public so I can buy some shares!

Good Stuff!


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[Skylinerider]

Here is an interesting option for home solar, it takes the sting out of the high startup cost.

http://renu.citizenre.com/

 

[MaddBaggins]

Here is an interesting option for home solar, it takes the sting out of the high startup cost.

http://renu.citizenre.com/

Thats an interesting site. Do you know anyone who has done it? I would love to do solar, but that site sounds almost to good to be true.

 

[Desertdude]

In reading farther on the Citizenre site;

"You must be a current residential utility customer and you must maintain your interconnection with the utility. If you fail to maintain your connection with your local electric utility, this may be grounds for default in the Forward Rental Agreement, and your REnU may be removed."


In addition to your monthly fee, are they selling back extra generated electricity to the power company?

 

[Skylinerider]

In reading farther on the Citizenre site;

"You must be a current residential utility customer and you must maintain your interconnection with the utility. If you fail to maintain your connection with your local electric utility, this may be grounds for default in the Forward Rental Agreement, and your REnU may be removed."


In addition to your monthly fee, are they selling back extra generated electricity to the power company?

From what I understand, you pay the utility company for any electricity you use over the amount generated by the solar. When this is installed on your home, someone comes out and designs it to meet your power needs. So your system shouldn't generate surplus electricity. They don't just throw a few solar panels on your house, and call it good. If your needs change, they will revise the system to fit your energy needs.

DISCLAIMER: I have no connection with this company, they just came to our work to do a presentation, and I thought it looked like an innovative solution.

 

[Skylinerider]

Thats an interesting site. Do you know anyone who has done it? I would love to do solar, but that site sounds almost to good to be true.

They will be installing systems in late 2008 from what I understand. I know there is at least one at my office who has already signed up and will be one of the first to have it on his home.

 

[Desertdude]

Thanks for replying - this looks like a very interesting solution.

Keep us in the loop

 

[MaddBaggins]

Thanks for the reply. I'll be keeping an eye on it.
Since they set your monthly fee and lock it, then I wouldn't have a problem if they sold excess power back to the utility. Sounds like thats what they do.
If it was my own system, I would be selling that excess power back to the utility. Living in the city, I'm sure my house will always be on grid so selling back excess power is just good business, whether I do it or the company who owns my system.

 

[vcsnover]

I saw a short on this company on a Discovery Times show a few months back, looks very promising. Looks like it may make solar energy available to the masses, not just those with more expendable income. I have looked into solar but the initial startup costs are prohibitive to my budget.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Here is an interesting option for home solar, it takes the sting out of the high startup cost.

http://renu.citizenre.com/

Well, a google search and 1 hour of reading later. I've learned that there is a lot of negativity asscoiated with this company. For one they have not even aquired funding to begin manufacture of their facility. That puts projected install dates well into 2009 if they start construction now.
Anyway, I won't hash it all out here, just search citizenre in google and check out the stuff on the first 3 pages.
There is a local rep here in Tucson and I spoke with him breifly today. I'll talk with him some more next week and ask some pointed questions about the allegations I've seen on the web.

 

[Skylinerider]

Well, a google search and 1 hour of reading later. I've learned that there is a lot of negativity asscoiated with this company. For one they have not even aquired funding to begin manufacture of their facility. That puts projected install dates well into 2009 if they start construction now.
Anyway, I won't hash it all out here, just search citizenre in google and check out the stuff on the first 3 pages.
There is a local rep here in Tucson and I spoke with him breifly today. I'll talk with him some more next week and ask some pointed questions about the allegations I've seen on the web.

You may be right on the 2009 start date, I have no idea. Just thought it was an interesting idea. They could be full of it for all I know. Thanks for researching it more, I know I will as I get closer and more serious about solar.

 

[teotwaki]

I've combined these for portable power backup

The panel is 25 watts and the battery is about 9 pounds and maybe a 10 Amp-hour gel-cell. The lights are LEDs but the photo makes them look like fluorescent tubes. I like the dual cig lighter ports. The unit comes with a wall charger and a car charging (cig lighter) cord. On sale for $29 at Kragens in SoCal. They also have a version with a 150W inverter for $20 more.
I can use this with my handheld walkie talkie, cellphone charging and so on. I don't really plan to use it for jumpstarts though..

The panel is from Brunton and I found it new a while back for $200. The newest version (Solaris 26W) is lighter than mine.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I just spoke with the Tucson rep of Citizenre again. I asked if the company has secured funding and started construction on their facility. He said yes they have secured 650mil and have already started building, but he could not say where. He stated that they had an agreement with the governor of that state to let him drop the announcement to help boost his/her rating at election time.
I told him that I’m in wait and see mode and keep me in the loop for info.
If they can pull this off it would be a huge boost to solar power. I hope it works out, but the questions I’ve seen posed and not clearly answered doesn’t bode well. Time will tell.