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.

ROOFTOP & SMALL-SCALE CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER NOW COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE

Sopogy SopoFlare Rooftop Parabolic Mirror Collector

This system for rooftop mounting measures 8 feet long by about 2 feet high with a mirror width of about 2.5 feet.

Sopogy of Honolulu, HI announced on October 27, 2009 that the company is releasing the world’s first commercially available rooftop concentrating solar thermal power system.

Sopogy claims that its SopoFlare MicroCSP parabolic mirror system is priced at 30 percent cheaper than competing rooftop solar technologies.

According to the Sopogy Press Release:

“The system easily retrofits into existing facilities, reducing natural gas consumption (and) giving users an estimated 3-year payback on installation.”

“SopoFlare's compact design at 8 feet long by 2.5 feet wide is perfect for quick and easy installation by local HVAC and Plumbing professionals.”

“This brings concentrating solar power to the commercial and industrial facility in a cost effective, space efficient and contractor friendly solution.”

Sopogy’s products illustrate the range of scalability of concentrating solar thermal power (CSP/CSTP) installations. CSP/CSTP can provide utility-scale solar thermal electric power in excess of hundreds of megawatts as well as residential- and commercial-scale power in the range of a few kilowatts. In addition, CSP/CSTP can be used for air-conditioning, water heating, space heating, and commercial process heating.

Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSP/CSTP) has a significantly higher conversion efficiency of sunlight into energy. CSP/CSTP systems currently boast efficiencies ranging from about 20 to 40 percent compared with about 15 percent for most commercially available solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. CSP/CSTP systems also are able to produce excess heat during daylight hours that can be stored for use during cloud cover, darkness, or to supplement peak power demands.

Concentrating Solar Thermal Electric Power Generation Schematic showing Parabolic Trough Mirrors and Thermal Storage Tanks. Parabolic trough mirrors focus solar heat onto a fluid-filled pipe. The heated fluid is carried to storage and/or to a heat exchanger that heats water into steam. The steam runs the turbine that generates electricity.

Andasol 1 Concentrating Solar Thermal Electric Power Plant Parabolic Trough Mirrors & People for Scale

Andasol 1 is one of three similar CSTP plants constructed or planned in the Aldeire and La Calahorra area, Marquesao del Zenete Region, Granada Province, Spain

Andasol Power plants 1, 2, & 3 are each designed using 209,664 mirrors. The solar field peak efficiency is about 70 percent, and the annual average solar field peak efficiency is about 50 percent. Molten salt thermal storage retains enough heat for about 7.5 peak load hours of operation during cloudy or dark conditions, or in response to demand. Each of the three Andasol CSTP plants is rated at about 50 megawatts (MW) of power. The peak efficiency of each CSTP plant is about 28 percent, with an annual average efficiency of about 15 percent. The estimated lifespan of the power plants is at least 40 years.

Solar Choices And Costs For Homes & Businesses

Heliodyne Offers Web-Based Courses On Installing Solar Thermal Systems


The New Mexico Coalition for Clean and Affordable Energy (NMCCAE) and the New Mexico Solar Energy Association (NMSEA) offer an 8-page document on solar energy for homes, businesses, and agricultural entities.





The guidebook, "How to Go Solar Using New Mexico's New Solar Energy Incentives," is a basic introduction for getting involved with solar energy.

Although specific to New Mexico in terms of reference information, the guidebook offers sound advice for potential residential, business and agricultural solar customers anywhere.

The guidebook has information on registering one's solar rights, descriptions of types of solar systems, estimated costs of solar systems, and putting together incentives such as solar tax credits.

The guidebook covers solar photovoltaic and active solar thermal heating systems -- the systems that use panels to collect solar energy. NMSEA and many others offer information on passive solar systems that are typically used for heating and cooling. A well designed passive solar home in New Mexico -- and other areas with cold but sunny winters -- saves about 80 (eighty) percent of the off-site energy purchased to heat and cool an average home.

The NMCCAE and NMSEA urge those considering solar systems to move carefully, be patient, and research options according to one's needs and budget. In many cases, low-cost or no-cost energy efficiency improvements will be a more economical solution than solar electric or solar thermal installations.

Look for restrictions such as homeowner covenants, historical district standards, etc. that affect your home or business.

Register and protect your solar rights under the New Mexico Solar Rights Law. You have the right to prevent nearby construction or other activities that will shade your solar system, but only if you register your rights and inform your neighbors.

Understand different types of solar systems and their costs.

• Solar Hot Water Systems provide domestic hot water.
• Large Solar Hot Water systems provide hot water for air heating.
• Direct Solar Hot Air Systems provide air heating.
• Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems provide solar electricity without batteries.
• Off-grid Solar Photovoltaic Systems provide solar electricity using batteries.

Positive Energy 1.5-kilowatt grid-tied solar panel array on a garage rooftop, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Positive Energy provides an instructive Photo Gallery of different types of solar systems and components of these systems.

Look at the incentives available to you. Incentives change frequently in the fast growing solar energy field, so check the links provided in the guidebook for updated information.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) in May 2009 created DSIRE Solar.

"DSIRE SOLAR is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote the adoption of solar technologies. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Program, DSIRE SOLAR is a new component of the DSIRE project that provides solar-specific policy information to consumers, policy makers, program administrators, the solar industry and other stakeholders."

For any USA state, one may search DSIRE Solar for incentives for either solar electric, solar thermal, or both technologies.

Locate a reputable installer. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is training and certifying solar PV installers and will soon be training and certifying solar thermal installers. Beware of installers who suggest solar systems not be inspected. Report problems with installers to the Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico and/or your local chamber of commerce or better business bureau.

The "How to Go Solar" guidebook was originally published in April, 2007. The guidebook is updated from time to time as new incentives and other information become available. See the NMCCAE and NMSEA web sites for current information.

Heliodyne, Inc. Offers Online Training For Installing Solar Thermal Systems

Heliodyne, Inc. Solar Thermal Roof Mounted Flat Plate Collector. Our Sun heats water in conduits inside the panel. Heated water flows into a tank or other storage system inside the building. A pump returns cooler water to the panel. Water flows in and out of the collector panel through the two silver pipes seen in the image.

Heliodyne, Inc. of Richmond, California announced on May 11, 2009 that it now offers web-based courses for trade professionals interested in installing solar thermal systems.

"Training includes topics such as solar hot water fundamentals, sales and quoting, sizing, installation and service and maintenance. The subjects are broken down into short lessons, which the student can study at his or her own pace from the convenience of his or her home or office.

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"The beginner’s course is intended to educate professionals on solar hot water theory along with proper installation techniques." 



"'Utilizing the internet as a medium to train and educate plumbers, builders, dealers, engineers, architects, planners and other relevant industry professionals is an ideal solution since we can reach so many without the inconvenience and expense of travel,' said Robert Cooley, training manager at Heliodyne."