Akeena Solar's Andalay AC Solar Panels Now Available at Lowe's Home Improvement Stores

"Plug-and-Play" AC Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panel Systems Now On Shelves at Lowe's Energy Centers Throughout California

Akeena Solar of Los Gatos, California in December 2009 announced that its Andalay AC (alternating current) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels are now available at 21 Lowe’s Energy Centers in Lowe’s home-improvement stores throughout California.

According to Clean Edge News, “The Lowe's Energy Centers aim to empower customers to create an energy plan that fits their budget and home-improvement goals. An information kiosk offers a touch-screen display to help customers evaluate their home's solar and wind potential, and the Energy Centers feature products that help them measure their energy use, reduce energy consumption and generate clean energy.”

Akeena Solar claims that its Andalay AC is the first fully “plug-and-play” AC solar power system. A White Paper, Video and Specifications provide evidence on “…how Andalay AC is the only rooftop system to take advantage of mainstream home AC electrical wiring standards, doing away with the need to work with dangerous DC circuits and resulting in faster, safer, more profitable installations with reduced engineering, inventory, supply chain and training requirements.” 

The White Paper “…examines how the innovations encompassed in Andalay AC not only revolutionize the way solar installation companies can do business, but also how consumers can benefit from the full promise of rooftop energy generation.” 

How Solar Power Works

Solar power systems turn sunlight into electricity. Silicon wafers capture photons from sunlight and turn them into DC power, which is then transformed into 120 volt AC power and connected to your existing electrical system — as well as the local electrical grid. When the sun shines, you can generate more power than you consume (your meter will literally spin backwards). At night you'll draw on utility company power, essentially using the electrical grid as a giant storage battery.

Image and text from Akeena Solar

From the December 10, 2009 Akeena Solar Press Release:

"The PC revolution in the computer industry occurred when new technology made PCs easy to use and affordable," said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Akeena Solar. "Likewise, with panels becoming plug-and-play appliances, the solar revolution has started. The availability of solar panels in Lowe's stores makes it easy for homeowners to go solar and is a big step toward getting solar on every sunny rooftop."

“Andalay AC panels, developed by Akeena Solar in Silicon Valley, have integrated racking, wiring and grounding -- reducing the overall parts count by 80 percent and protecting against performance-threatening breakdowns that could happen with ordinary DC power systems.”

“Andalay panels also have built-in inverters that produce household AC power, so there is no high-voltage DC wiring. These safety and reliability benefits are achieved without compromising performance. In fact, Andalay AC panels produce 5 to 25 percent more energy output compared with ordinary DC solar panels. Because of the modular design of Andalay AC panels, homeowners could install a few panels now and gradually add on later, unlike DC systems that require a complete redesign when adding panels.”

"Buying panels off the shelf at Lowe's offers solar options to homeowners that they didn't have," continued Cinnamon. "Homeowners now can get a system as small as one panel. With Andalay's safe household AC power design, they are the only real choice for do-it-yourselfers."

“Participating Lowe's stores will stock the accessories required for installation, eliminating the need for do-it-yourselfers and contractors to pre-order components and enabling them to pick up what they need on the way to the installation.”

According to Akeena Solar, whereas direct-current (DC) solar power systems require special installation skills, Andalay’s alternating current (AC) solar system can be installed by electricians, Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractors, and experienced do-it-yourselfers without specialized training.

A video by Andalay shows components of the system and how it is installed.