When it comes to solar panels, the one thing I constantly try to drill into readers’ heads is the fact that they can’t just be put on anything, anywhere and at any angle and still be expected to produce power at optimal efficiency; they just don’t work that way. Proper orientation, angle, and equipment are crucial in getting the most efficient power production out of what is already a relatively inefficient means of converting sunlight directly into energy ( ~20%).
Well, my constant preaching may no longer be necessary if a new solar panel from Solyndra catches on as the next generation of rooftop solar production. The panel is actually a rack of ’solar panel tubes’ that are made of thin film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar skins wrapped into a cylindrical hermetically-sealed glass tube. This hermetically-sealed tube is intended to keep out moisture since CIGS are known to be susceptible and degrade when exposed to prolonged moisture.
The beauty of the system is in the fact that the cylindrical thin film modules are able to capture direct and indirect sunlight from any angle. This virtually eliminates the need for angled mounting racks and unsightly aesthetics due to panel array orientation.
From Solyndra’s site:
The Solyndra system’s ability to cover more roof and capture more light results in more annual solar electricity generation. Solyndra panels employ cylindrical modules which capture sunlight across a 360-degree photovoltaic surface capable of converting direct, diffuse and reflected sunlight into electricity. This self-tracking design allows Solyndra’s PV systems to capture more sunlight than traditional flat-surfaced solar panels, which require costly tilted mounting devices to improve the capture of direct light, offer poor collection of diffuse light and fail to collect reflected light from rooftops or other installation surfaces.
Solyndra’s panels perform optimally when mounted horizontally and packed closely together, thereby covering significantly more of the typically available roof area and producing more electricity per rooftop on an annual basis than a conventional panel installation. The result is significantly more solar electricity per rooftop per year.
First Big Test
Solyndra’s technology and claims are now being put to the test with a newly installed 208 kilowatt Solyndra system atop Plastic Package Inc.’s Sacramento factory. The system will supply about one-third of the factory’s annual electricity needs and is expected to pay for itself within six years.
The Good: A solar ‘panel’ that eliminates the need for angling mounts and is able to take advantage of sunlight from 360 degrees. Cheaper installation costs. Since they can be installed flat, aesthetics no longer an issue.
The Bad: CIGS thin films are a little more than half as efficient as traditional solar PV when it comes to conversion efficiencies. Less durable than traditional PV panels. Still are susceptible to shading and shadows.
The Bottom-Line: A fairly intuitive and more efficient product solution to one of the biggest problems that plague traditional solar PV panels.
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