Solar power for new build off-grid house

[peakbagger]

Gee, Didnt Nanosolar promise integrated solar panels for industrial roofs a few years back . I seem to remember a buck a watt and they would be installed in continous sheets on a metal substrate so no need for another roof membrane. I guess the change in management may have done them well as the hype has been toned down.

At least they finally appear to have one public installation in Germany (home of the high incentives for PV).

[russ]

I think it is by far best to not use the material until some company, like Dow, comes along with the resources and management to back up the talk.

Too many startups are 49% BS & 50% smoke. That would be one expensive roof to replace after a few years due to problems!

[Sunking]

Gee, Didnt Nanosolar promise....

At least they finally appear to have one public installation in Germany (home of the high incentives for PV).

Nope to this date NanoSolar (Vaporware) has not manufactured a single panel, only 3 prototypes are known to exist.

[peakbagger]

Sorry, given the press releases regarding a 1 MW Nanosolar installation in Germany last fall. I thought they were in production somewhere. I guess they must have bought some other companies panels and relabeled them ?

[I]The 1.1 MW Frankenfelder Berg Landfill plant, located in Luckenwalde, Germany, was commissioned and connected to the EEG in June 2010. Beck Energy designed, engineered and installed thousands of Nanosolar Utility Panels for REST (Regional Disposal Service & Transport), the landfill and power plant owner and operator.

"The Nanosolar Utility Panel is fast and inexpensive to install with our unique and efficient installation technology. With 50% fewer people, we were able to install the same area of Nanosolar panels in one day as conventional thin film solar panels,

[Sunking]

Sorry, given the press releases regarding a 1 MW Nanosolar installation in Germany last fall.

No need to apologize. i am aware of what NanoSolar PR page says, but if you try you cannot verify any sale ever took place, nor can you find this German company they supposedly sold the panels too.

NanoSolar technology is not new as it has been around for 30 years. It is the same technology that solar roof shingles use. The problem is the Sun Decomposes the laminate (polymer plastic film) it is etched on which causes failure with in a short period of time. This is why you do not find anymore roof shingles, as they are too huge of a liability for the manufactures warranty policy. They all went broke from warranty claims against them.

Ironic the Sun destroys them huh?

[James@Imperial]

Nanosolar Problems

Hello,

I wondered if anyone could help me, I'm looking for information about Nanosolar's troubles. I

[Sunking]

There are only 3 panels known to exist. One in there so called CEO office, one in a museum, and a missing one that was put up for sale on E-Bay that Popular Science did thier article on that won all those meaningless awards. E-Bay removed it because of Fraud Allegations. They are like EEStor, pure SCAM and SWINDLE. I wish you luck as there is very little info out there on them anymore. They have been under wraps since 2007/2008.

[Volt]

Oh Boy.....

really got to develop an eye for thes kind of things...don't You ?

Volt

[russ]

There are small items in the trade news or on someone's blog from time to time about many of the companies that are trying to peddle a new 'new' product or process that promise great things but fail to deliver.

Any field where a lot of new work is being done is subject to having hucksters trying to scam off free bucks.

Look at ethanol, methanol, other bio-fuels, solar thermal & PV - all have their share of parties that are going nowhere and know it but are trying to rake in the investor's bucks.

Russ

[Volt]

Russ,

So are there companies, or systems which have proven OK and can be considered
trustwothy?

For example....we may want to install Solar-off -grit systems for private use as well. because they hardky exist in Greece but many houses are without electricity.
So trying to get 2nd-hand systems for buying and selling.....as an option,
would it make sense just as a general idea ?

And what are the experiences with that kind of thing, if one has to expect, that there is a lot of crap on the market and people will try toget rid of systems privately because they don't WORK properly ?

It seems, that one should wait a couple of years until there have been enough tryouts and failures in order to decide which company is producing serious equipment and which is NOT....am I correct in this assumption ?

Volt

[russ]

Both equipment and installers have to be looked at closely.

The equipment - we recommend using a panel supplier that has been around for years and where solar is a small part of their business. Their guaranties should be trustworthy in the future. The new guy - maybe yes and probably no.

The inverter - a brand name with good support.

Electrical hardware - equipment that conforms to code in Greece or EU.

Rack or support system design - from an engineer that understands local requirements and is competent. Someone pointed out that 'Tony two guys and a truck' are not the preferred designer or installer. When their truck goes down the road your warranty for their part probably did as well.

System design - from a electrical design firm that knows solar.

You have a lot of work to do as regards grid connections. Are you allowed to supply the customer direct or do you have to sell to a reseller?

A local guy that deals with the utility - possibly a retired utility or government person can guide you best on these points.

Breakfast time!

Russ

[russ]

If you can find second hand panels they can be tested to insure the output. They should be good for 20 years and more from the original date of installation.

Second hand inverters would be far more tricky and they are an expensive component.

Most of the rest would be new materials.

Russ

[Mike90250]

.....
So trying to get 2nd-hand systems for buying and selling........

Not many 2nd hand systems. The PV's go and go and go, till a rock hits them and breaks them. Chargers and inverters eventually fail, and get replaced.

Beware of anyone selling 2nd hand PV's as they may be internally damaged, and test OK for 5 min, but die after 30 min.

[James@Imperial]

Sunking, are you sure nanosolar is a total scam?

Are these panels fake?



I've seen photo's taken by a solar enthusiast that seem to show they were definitely building something there, do you think those panels are not their own?

[Sunking]

Sunking, are you sure nanosolar is a total scam?

Are these panels fake?

Let's see how this works out. Beck Energy is a solar panel manufacture in Germany right? That would be strange for them yo use another manufactures panel don't you think? The source for your article is a press release from Nanosolar.

So yeah I think the story is fake.