Are They Still Going To Sell Solar Panels for $2/Watt

[MarineLiner]

First Solar Producing Panels For $.98 A Watt

First Solar Producing Panels For $.98 A Watt

[judysolar]

While researching about solar panels, I hear about companies planning to sell solar panels for $2 a watt. How much truth is there to that?

This price was just quoted ex-works, of manufacturer, or CIF destination port. No middle men are involved. As long as you directly place bulk order to the manufactuers, 2USD/watt is a normal price you enjoy. However, you must undertake the importing procedures and pay custom duty.

[Andre39]

For what it's worth, here in South Africa good B-grade is available at around US$2.50/W when available, and A-grade is considered good value at $4.00. The cheap Chinese panels are not popular at all, and are outsold by the expensive brand names pretty much everywhere, which is a cultural anomaly here. There are a few dealers with excellent Chinese products though, but those are normally just sold single and used in the rural areas for radios and lights... See? Now you know.

[judysolar]

For what it's worth, here in South Africa good B-grade is available at around US$2.50/W when available, and A-grade is considered good value at $4.00. The cheap Chinese panels are not popular at all, and are outsold by the expensive brand names pretty much everywhere, which is a cultural anomaly here. There are a few dealers with excellent Chinese products though, but those are normally just sold single and used in the rural areas for radios and lights... See? Now you know.

It's a joke that B-grade can be sold as high as 2.50/Watt. Chinese-made B-grade stuff cost only 1.50 USD/watt. But you must beware the risk of such lower price: lower price surely leading to poorer quality. B-grade solar cells or fall-out cell stuff were totally exported to China from Europe, Japan and Taiwan.

But 2.00 USD/watt can absoultely buy Chinese-made A-grade solar panels!

[phil]

so why exactly are the chinese UL listed panels bad quality?

[judysolar]

so why exactly are the chinese UL listed panels bad quality?

Phil, a good question! Indeed, Chinese submit the best quality panel samples to apply for UL or TUV, but in massive production, they would not comform fully to the requirements of UL or TUV. Thus, not all Chinese UL-listed panels are really acceptable.

To win price competition, chinese have to seek cheaper materials!

[earth4ever]

Has anyone tried making their own solar panels at home?
If so are they just as efficient as the ones you can buy?

[slade1977]

First, remember the UL listing is not a certificate that the product works. Only a certificate that it will not blow up in your face. UL1703 does test for output ratings, so a UL listing does give some indication of a degree of quality.

Remember however, UL Listing is granted on a production level, so individual panels may fall below testing thresholds. Also, just because something is advertised as "UL Listed" does not mean that it is. There are tons of illegitimately "UL Listed" items out there. Additionally, a recent one I've seen is "Built to UL Standards" and it does not mean it is UL Listed.

To the stated question of $2/w? It's very very tough to reach that benchmark. I've started small scale manufacturing of models and I'm having a tough time staying under $3/w with grade A/A- quality products. The high end, top efficiency is every higher.

Now, that $2/w has to be quantified by another resourse...size of the cell/module. There are thin film solar cells out there that can easily reach that mark, but have around a 9% efficiency rating. What does it mean? basically, a system would need to be 50% larger to get the same output. For the common residential customer, size is very very important since the foot print of the solar system is generally limited by available sun facing rooflines. So, having a $2/w solar system may not be as desirable if you can only install a 2kW system instead of a 5kW system in the same space.

To use a bastardization of an old ship repair axiom about jobs:

There are 3 kinds of solar cells: small (M2), efficient(w/M2), and cheap($$).

You can have any 2 of the 3, but not all 3.

If you want small and cheap, it won't be efficient.

If you want cheap and efficient, it won't be small.

If you want efficient and small, it won't be cheap.

Granted, that is a rough look and doesn't quite fit all the paradigms of solar modules, but you get the idea.

I think $2/w is a long way off as a viable residential price.


earth4ever,

Yes, you can make them at home and there are a number of websites that will show you how. However, there are a lot of problems doing it that way. If you plan to hook it up to your house, there may be all sorts of build code violations (dependign on locality) and if for some reason your house burns down and your insurance and even remotely tie it to your homemade solar panels, you will likely be on the short end of the stick when it comes to getting any money for your house. Other problems with home made panels is they generally suffer a short life span of 3-5 years before major system degradation. This is due to the fact modern solar panels are vacuum encapsulated to keep everything hermetically sealed. Home made panels tend to have a lot of air and moisture in the module which will slowly cause problems within the module. But, they are fun projects.

[JustinSolarGuy]

Right on That reminds me of something

One of my Hobbies is building EV's. The EV guys have a similar saying...

When you decide what EV to build you can have two of three attributes
Cheap, Fast, good Range

You can make a cheap EV that hauls but it won't make 5 miles

You can build a Fast EV thats has good range but it won't be cheap

You can build a Cheap EV with good range but it wont go fast

No matter what you cant have all three.

[solistic]

panel 's available from certified Canadian and German manufacturer's

Solistic - This smells a lot like an ad. Please contact moderator JASON about sales and banner ads

To whoever is interested I have A grade panels from $2.10 to $2.60 capable of producing 200 to 230W. The cost is a landed cost in Canada. These panels our fully certified, carry a 25 year 80% power output warranty, 10 year 90% warranty, 5 year frame to frame warranty on material and workmanship, performance warranty Insurance (undertaken by Chubb Ins.) These panels are the latest generation polycrystalline cell technology, 0,+3% output tolerance ensures the system output power is delivered. Please feel free to contact me anyime my cell is N.Y. exchange or via email at solisticenergy"cogeco.ca
I hope this has been helpful to some of you looking for afordable solutions.

[solistic]

Hey sorry if it sounds like an add, I just have inside information on a number of available containers of panels which could be redirected to potential end-user's, possably a gray area has been crossed here sorry just thought I could help.

[Sunking]

You can make a cheap EV that hauls but it won't make 5 miles

You can build a Fast EV thats has good range but it won't be cheap

You can build a Cheap EV with good range but it wont go fast

No matter what you cant have all three.

Mike I would agree if speaking in terms of DIY EV, but not manufactured EV. You can buy today a 250 mile range @ 130 mph luxury rocket. Only catch is the $100K+ price tag.

I have a factory NEV that goes about 30 mph with a 40 milish range, and a racing EZ-GO modified golf cart that now goes around 50 mph in about 20 feet and pops wheelies. Never pushed the golf cart to see what the range is, but should be around 30 to 40 miles with the LFP batteries. Gets around the golf course and community all day on a charge. Just cannot leave the community with it because it is not street legal. NEV no problem, take it to the mall and stores all the time.

[KRenn]

I think the answer is yes

Seeing as how panel prices are now below $2 a watt.

[noeladdison]

[QUOTE=MarineLiner;1272]

[Ray]

Hi,everybody,I'm pv module manufacturer from China,recently our distributor who located in Adelaide told me many containers of rabbish panels(resell from EU IN-STOCK) come into Sydney solar market and make it a mixed.

these panels selling with very low price about 1$/watt by using B grade cells and can't realize 25yrs warranty,atmost 3 yrs.

Pls think twice as you are going to buy solar panels or solar system.Better you check the original manufacturer has all certificates and any other insurance.

guys if you have problem ,you can contact me for more information.


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