IKEA like solar system

Armageddon Energy has come up with a framing system and a lightweight solar panel that can pretty much go straight from a few cardboard boxes to your roof, sort of like furniture from IKEA.

A single solar “clover” from Armageddon consists of a triangular frame, a micro-inverter and three lightweight silicon hexagonal solar panels. A single can put out 400 watts. A few Tab A into Slot Bs and it’s complete. Three on the roof together can provide a house with a kilowatt of power. The clovers still have to be secured to the roof, angled toward the sun and plugged into the electrical system – which works best when handled by professionals – but much of the grunt work associated with conventional solar systems is already done. As a result of pre-fabbing, the cost of an Armageddon system will be lower, the company asserts.

The clovers are also lightweight. A single hexagonal solar panel weighs around 10 to 12 pounds. A conventional silicon solar panel might weigh 40 pounds. Lower weight means cheaper shipping, lower carbon taxes (where applicable) and a more rapid install. And installation costs could stand some trimming. Installation still accounts for around 30 percent to nearly 50 percent of the cost of a solar system. Over the past three decades, the vast majority of research in the industry has focused on increasing the efficiency of solar cells and reducing the amount of raw material required for solar cells.

The hexagonal panels weigh less than conventional panels because the cells are encased in a Teflon coating from DuPont rather than glass. The company also believes the hexagonal shape makes it more efficient. Circles tend to be strong, but contain a lot of wasted space. Rectangles are, by their nature, off-balance. Hexagons are inherently strong and efficient. Hexagonal solar panels means the company can also use triangular racks, and triangles tend to be fairly stable.

Original article: Michael Kanellos. Greentechmedia. 13 May 2009. Read more…