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How Solar PV Works

Top New York Solar Installers

by Aisha Abdelhamid November 10, 2017

written by Aisha Abdelhamid

As a clean energy leader, New York is setting an excellent example for the nation. This is a state seriously committed to the solar revolution and the empowerment of the people through the wide-scale adoption of clean, renewable energy. And, with near-term plans for implementing more than 3,000 MW of solar power, New York solar installers are lining up like race horses at the starting gate.

If you’re among the folks ready and waiting to go solar in the Empire State, the following article offers an in-depth look at the solar market, as well as tips to keep in mind as you evaluate the great lineup of New York solar installers ready and waiting to get your job done right.

New York solar installers Credit votesolar.org

2017 National Solar Trends

Across the nation, solar is booming. Tracking growth and market trends, the US Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) reports that costs have dropped more than 70% since 2010 for installing a rooftop solar system.

At the same time, the average annual growth rate of solar in the US has been 68%, spurred significantly by the adoption and extension of the federal investment tax credit (ITC).

There are now around 1.4 million solar installations in the US. This represents nearly 45 GW of total solar capacity installed, or enough electricity to power more than 8.7 million homes.

Two million solar installations should be reached in 2018, and SEIA expects 4 million to be reached by 2022.

Credit SEIA.org

Solar Power Helps Fuel the US Economy

In just 5 years, the number of Americans employed in the solar industry has doubled, rising to more than 260,000. That’s over a quarter of a million folks making a living by harvesting clean, free energy from the sun in the US.

As of 2016, 39% of all new electric generating capacity came from solar installations. This was the first time solar beat all other technologies. 2017 looks likely to continue the trend, too, with solar hitting 30% of all new capacity for Q1.

Credit: SEIA.org

New York is Soaking Up the Sun

Although California has been dominating the US solar market with 35% market share in 2016, New York is claiming a fair share of the sunshine, too. Ranking number 10 in the nation for cumulative solar capacity, SEIA’s most recent data reveals that New York reached 1,012 MW in the first quarter of 2017.

Credit: SEIA.org

Consistently in the nation’s top 10 solar markets, New York is a consistent leader at crafting positive state solar policies. Via Governor Cuomo’s commitment to the NY-SUN initiative, the NY Public Service Commission (PSC) recently launched a 10-year $1 billion program to develop a statewide self-sustaining solar market. It is this program that will bring the development of 3,000 MW of solar installations across New York within the next 5 years.

This will be an ambitious effort, adding to the 1,011 MW already installed in the state, representing about 166,000 homes already powered by solar.

In dollar terms, over $3,252.19 million has already been invested in New York solar energy projects, with $774.45 million invested in 2016 alone.

In people terms, New York’s solar industry employs 8,135 folks, ranking 6th in the country for 2016. This breaks down into 746 companies in total, with 275 New York solar installers and developers, 94 solar manufacturers, and 363 other industry-related companies.

Credit: SEIA.org

Notable New York Solar Installations

With 32 MW of solar power capacity, Long Island Solar Farm was completed in 2011 and represents enough capacity to power more than 5,264 NY homes.

Other notable New York solar projects were completed by several large retailers in New York, including Anheuser-Busch, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars.

Owens Corning, as well, has installed 2 MW of solar capacity in Fera Bush.

Also at 2 MW, Cornell University’s solar farm owned by Argos Solar LLC in Geneva is among the NY’s larger solar installations. Completed in 2015, this installation has enough capacity to offset nearly 40% of the annual electricity demand at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva.

Credit: Cornell.edu

Best Tips For Evaluating New York Solar Installers

Like every decision to go solar, each solar installation is unique. But, no matter how it gets done, going solar is a great decision. Harvesting free, clean solar energy for powering your home is very satisfying, enhancing your green lifestyle by joining the solar revolution and helping to protect the environment.

And, happily, costs have decreased 70% since 2010, so rooftop solar is cheaper than ever. Finding the top New York solar installers is easier than ever, too.

While your situation is unique, and everyone benefits greatly from getting a free solar quote, the following tips are helpful for anyone wanting to get the most efficient harvest of solar energy from their installation.

Having this information at hand when you contact New York solar installers will help guide you and the installer you choose to get the job done right.

Research your home’s current electric usage — Gather the past 12 months of utility bills to know how much electricity your home is typically using
Guage your future electric needs — Is your family growing, are you thinking of putting in a pool or a hot tub, or interested in solar water heating?
Are you interested in installing an EV charger with your rooftop solar? If you have or plan to purchase a new EV, this is the perfect time to do it
Are you facing any time constraints over the next 12 months?
A solar installation is usually quick, but can potentially run into snags that take time to resolve
Keep in mind any budget constraints — if cash is tight, explore owning/leasing options with all New York solar installers you contact to find the right installation for your home and budget
Remember that higher quality hardware may offer a much better harvest of solar power, so the lowest price tag will not necessarily be the best choice

Remember, too, that labor and other ‘soft’ costs account for around 50% of a solar installation. Larger solar companies regularly spend generously on ‘soft’ items, like major advertising campaigns and internet marketing sprees, and their customers regularly foot the bills.

Also keep in mind that the New York solar installers you evaluate must be completely familiar with your local, state, and federal tax breaks and incentives, as well as local permitting rules, and other utility-related regulations.

Finally, weigh carefully the difference between local and out-of-town New York solar installers, since local experience, ongoing support, and the prompt honoring of warranties that you are offered can be crucial in both the near term and the future.

We celebrate NY's commitment to community health, resiliency, opportunity w #Solar4All http://t.co/9iPK8eEwEN #REV4NY pic.twitter.com/EJZmVaUNEb

— Vote Solar (@votesolar) July 16, 2015

Top New York Solar Installers for 2017

The following is a specially curated list of top New York solar installers for 2017. Please keep in mind that this list is alphabetical — it’s not ordered by ranking because ranks are based on many factors that may not apply to your situation.

Pulled primarily from positive reviews on such websites as solarreviews.com and solarpowerworldonline.com, this list represents a perfect place to start if you ready to evaluate the top New York solar installers.

2K Solar
4 Crotty Lane, New Windsor, NY 12553

American Solar Install
140 Morgan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Apex Solar Power
64 Main St, Queensbury, NY 12804

Buffalo Solar Solutions
1212 Abbott Road, Suite A, Buffalo, NY 14218
13 West Main Street, Cuba, NY 14727

Built Well Solar
3280 Sunrise Hwy., Suite 345, Wantagh, NY 11793

CIR Electrical Construction
400 Ingham Ave Lackawanna, NY 14218

Collegiate Builders
2901 South Park Ave, Buffalo, NY 14218

Direct Energy Solar (formerly Astrum)
1108 Kings Highway, Chester, NY 10918
28 Colt Court, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

EnterSolar
805 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Great Brook Solar NRG
819 County Rd 28, South New Berlin, NY 13843

Harvest Power Solar
57 Saxon Ave, Bay Shore, NY 11706

Hudson Solar
13 Hook Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Kasselman Solar
20 Walker Way, Albany, NY 12205

Lighthouse Solar Hudson Valley
4 Cherry Hill Rd., New Paltz, NY 12561

Monolith Solar
44 Washington St, Rensselaer, NY 12144

Namaste Solar
50 Main Street, Suite 1000, White Plains, NY 10606

OnForce Solar
728 E 136th St, Bronx, NY 10454

Paradise Energy Solutions
2351 NY-14, Geneva, NY 14456

RGS Energy
22 3rd St, New City, NY 10956

Rochester Solar Technologies
830 Phillips Rd, Victor, NY 14564

Safari Energy
989 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018

Simply Solar Systems
2890 Church Rd, Hamlin, NY 14464

SolarCity
15 Grumman Road West, Unit 4, Bethpage, NY 11714
923C Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788
203 Ridgewood Dr., Elmsford, NY 10523

SOLARgeneration
747 Route 28, suite #4, Kingston, NY 12401

SUNation Solar Systems
171 Remington Blvd, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

SunBlue Energy
147 Valley St, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591

SunPower by EmPower Solar
4589 Austin Blvd. Island Park, NY 11558

SunPower by Infinity Solar Systems
4 Crotty Lane, New Windsor, NY 12553

SunPower by New York State Solar Farm
1938 Route 44 55, Modena, NY 12548

SunPower by Venture Solar
67 West St Suite 211, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Sustainable Energy Developments
318 Timothy Ln, Ontario, NY 14519

Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants P.C.
70 Pleasant Hill Road, PO Box 37, Mountainville, NY 10953
24-37 46th Street, Astoria, NY 11103
118-35 Queens Boulevard, 10th Floor, Suite 1000, Forest Hills, NY 11375
36 British American Boulevard, Suite 101, Latham, NY 12110
1279 Route 300, Newburgh, NY 12550
280 Little Britain Road, Building 2, Newburgh, NY 12550
3495 Winton Place, Building E, Suite 260, Rochester, NY 14623
1 North Lexington Ave, Suite 530, White Plains, NY 10601

Trinity Solar
2180 5th Ave #1, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

UGE
330 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018

Upstate Alternative Energy
7773 Gloria Dr, Baldwinsville, NY 13027

Vivint Solar
22 Kairnes Street, Albany, NY, 12205
1565 Ocean Avenue, Bohemia, NY, 11716
3 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, NY, 10523
177 Cantiague Rock Rd, Westbury, NY, 11590

YSG Solar
79 Madison Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10016

November 10, 2017 0 comment

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Photons & Solar Panels

by Glenn Meyers November 10, 2015

written by Glenn Meyers

We talk plenty today about solar panels, but not many really grasp how they work — how they create electricity.

In his book, Let It Shine: The 6,000-Year Story of Solar Energy, author John Perlin takes readers back to Albert Einstein in 1905 for perspective on the matter of light: “Einstein showed that light possesses an attribute that earlier scientists had not recognized. Light, he discovered, contains packets of energy, which he called light quanta (now called photons).”

“Photons?” you might ask. “Isn’t that something they use on Star Trek?” Yes, the word was used in the fictional television series. Remember photon torpedoes? If you do, you should also know this word has nothing to do with make-believe.

To begin, we need to understand light, or photons, posts Arizona State University:

“If light is imagined as a flow of particles, the particles are called photons with each photon carrying a discrete packet of energy. For a beam of fixed energy photons, the intensity of the beam depends the number of photons per second. Light can also be described as waves with the distance between waves, the wavelengths, inversely proportional to energy. The low energy radio waves have wavelengths of meters and the high energy x-rays can have wavelength of a millionth of a meter or less.”

So let’s discuss our sun, ultimate provider of light to Earth. The following information list comes from the US Department of Energy:

Enough energy from the sun hits the earth every hour to power the planet for a year
Sunlight is made up of tiny packets of energy called photons
These photons radiate out from the sun, and about 93 million miles later, they collide with a semiconductor on a solar panel here on earth. It all happens at the speed of light
A solar panel is made up of several individual cells, each with a positive and a negative layer, which create an electric field

Thus, the light with which we see and are warmed is made of photons.

As you might imagine, photons are not something that is seen by the human eye. But this video might help your PV vision.

Energy 101

Few of us are physicists, but this information will hopefully assist in understanding how photovoltaic panels work, as well as the miracle of light.

Image: Particle moving in a vacuum via Shutterstock

Energy 101 video via US Department of Energy

November 10, 2015 0 comment

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12 Solar Facts You Should Know

by Glenn Meyers October 8, 2015

written by Glenn Meyers

Lists are always fun, so here are 12 solar facts to put in your notebook so you can share the important stuff with anyone who’s interested.

I have divided this list of facts into four categories that might help you to better keep track of things.

Understanding Our Sun
Solar History
Solar Technology
Solar Metrics

But before you start this list of 12 solar facts, how about a quick trip to the classroom that might help bring all readers up to speed? Here’s a short book list:

Solar Electricity Handbook – 2014 Edition: A Simple, Practical Guide to Solar Energy – Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar Electric Systems, by Michael Boxworth
Let It Shine: The 6,000-Year History of Solar Energy, by John Perlin
Photovoltaic Design & Installation For Dummies, by Ryan Mayfield.

Understanding Our Sun

Age: Estimates calculate our sun is 4.6 billion years old, ands will continue burning its hydrogen fuel for another 5 billion years. Will it eventually burn out? Yes, of course — we all learned that in elementary school, right? For those fretting about the lifespan of their PV system’s power source, don’t worry.

Size: The sun is an average-sized star, we find at Cornell’s “Ask An Astronomer.” Here, Christopher Springob tells us, “The biggest stars are more than 100 times as massive as the Sun, and the smallest stars are less than 1/10th as massive as the Sun.”

Closeup Inspection: The NASA video below is worth seeing. In it, we learn that hydrogen is fused into helium in the core of the sun.

Solar History

Solar Ignitors: Historian John Perlin provides this information gem: During the sixth century BCE, Confucius wrote about the common use of curved mirrors shaped from shiny metal to concentrate the rays of the sun for making fire. These became known as yang-suis – translating to solar ignitors or burning mirrors. According to the great philosopher, upon waking up, the eldest son would attach a solar ignitor to his belt as he dressed for the day. It was his duty to focus the solar rays onto kindling to start the family’s cooking fire.

Photovoltaics’ Discovery: Willoughby Smith’s 1872 experiments that proved the photosensitivity of selenium stirred keen interest in two British scientists, William Grylls Adams and Richard Evans Day, to discover something previously unknown to science – that a current could be started by the action of “light alone” in a solid-state material. The two scientists called the flow of electricity caused by light, “photoelectric.” Today, we say, “photovoltaic.” So began in 1875 the first stirrings of today’s solar revolution.

Effort To Commercialize PV: Charles Fritts, an American inventor, built the first solar panels in 1881. They produced a current, Fritts reported, “that is continuous, constant and of considerable force not only by exposure to sunlight but also to dim, diffused daylight.”

Solar Technology

Photovoltaics: Historian John Perlin said this about the public reaction to Einstein’s photoelectric discovery: “Even after proving the validity of Einstein’s light quanta equation in explaining the photoelectric effect, Milliken dismissed the physicality of the photon as ‘untenable.’ In 1923, 18 years after Einstein published his light quanta piece, American physicist Arthur Hailey Compton created a collision between a stationary electron and a short wave of light. Just as in billiards, when the cue ball strikes its target, the light wave transferred some of its energy and momentum to the electron… After the Compton Experiment, the reality of Einstein’s photon and the photovoltaic effect gained universal acceptance in the scientific community.”

Concentrated Solar Power: Concentrated solar power (also called concentrating solar power, concentrated solar thermal, and CSP) systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy, onto a small area. The heat is what is used to eventually spin a turbine and generate electricity (very different from how solar PV generates electricity).

Solar Net Metering: The world’s first net-metered solar system was connected to the grid in 1979, when 28-year old architect Steven Strong put solar PV panels on two buildings making up a 270-unit apartment complex and connected them to a utility meter that tracked how much solar electricity was sent back into the grid. “A small meter mounted on the wall of the dining room told the story in kilowatts. When the utility power was drawn it ran forward. But when the PV was pumping out excess power, it ran backward.”

Solar Metrics

Solar Power In The US: Solar power in the United States surpassed 20 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity in 2015. “The report also highlights the fact that 40% of all new electric generating capacity brought online in the first half of 2015 in the US came from solar. 21 states throughout the country now have more than 100 MW of solar PV capacity, though the top five states in terms of solar capacity account for nearly ¾ of the total US cumulative PV capacity.”

Solar US Growth Spurt: From 2006 to 2013, the number of homes with solar power grew by more than 1,000 percent in the US, from 30,000 home to 400,000 homes.

Cost Of Solar: The lowest electricity price ever bid by a solar developer was 0.1875 Riyals ($0.049) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) by the Saudi Electric Company in Saudi Arabia in August 2015. That’s far less than the average price of electricity from natural gas or any other electricity source in the region.

There is plenty more that can be added to this list, but I hope this is a great starting place for understanding this stunning renewable energy source.

Image: Solar collage via Shuttersock

October 8, 2015 0 comment

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Fraunhofer ISE Develops New Solar Reference Cell

by Joshua S Hill September 12, 2015

written by Joshua S Hill

The world’s largest solar research institute, Fraunhofer ISE, has designed a new solar reference cell built to improve the quality of cell measurements.

Build according to the international standards of the World PV Scale (WPVS), Fraunhofer ISE’s new reference cell will allow test laboratories and cell and module manufacturers to significantly improve the quality of their measurements for the calibration of different types of solar cells. The new reference cell incorporates a new cell type based on negative, conductive silicon material.

Furthermore, the outdoor version of Fraunhofer ISE’s new reference cell allows for exact measurements to be taken outdoors.

Speaking specifically about reference cells, in general, the more accurately irradiation can be measured in a solar cell, the more accurately the performance of PV systems can be assessed.

“For our new version of the WPVS reference cells, we’ve completely changed the interior structure,” explained Stefan Brachmann, a Certified Technician at Fraunhofer ISE. “The reference cells were optimized with respect to linearity, stability, homogeneity, and durability.”

Spectral response (Relative Spectral Response) of various reference cells in comparison with the new type (HOQ IR ext.).

As mentioned, the new reference cell makes use for the first time of a silicon solar cell made out of n-type material, which, according to Fraunhofer ISE, “allows for a significant expansion of the spectral response (see chart) in comparison to the p-type” reference cell. “The new reference cells are therefore particularly suited for the calibration of new solar cells and modules that are also n-type based and have better spectral response than the traditional p-type based reference cells,” Fraunhofer ISE continued in its press release accompanying the announcement.

September 12, 2015 0 comment

Green antenna increases solar cell efficiency

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Green Antenna Could Double Solar Panel Efficiency

by Steve Hanley August 24, 2015

written by Steve Hanley

The solar panel revolution is sweeping across the nation. Costs have plummeted in the past 20 years, but a complete rooftop solar system can still cost more than $20,000 to install. Today’s standard solar panels are only about 15% efficient. There are some that are nearly 25% efficient, but they are too expensive for most residential or commercial applications.

Sunlight is composed of many different colors, all blended together. The solar panels in use today do a poor job of converting light in the blue range of the visible spectrum to electricity. They do a good job of converting light from about 600 to 1,000 nanometers (nm) into electric current but not from the 350 to 600 nm range.

A team of researchers at the University of Connecticut think they have found a way to significantly increase solar panel efficiency. They have created what they call a “green antenna,” which collects the unused blue photons and converts them to lower-energy photons the silicon can turn into electricity. The team, led by Challa V. Kumar, Ph.D., is presenting its work this week at an American Chemical Society (ACS) conference in Boston.

Converting the mostly unused portion of the light spectrum to wavelengths solar cells can use and doing it affordably is not a simple task. To tackle the problem, Prof. Kumar turned to organic dyes. Photons in light excite dye molecules, which can then relax and emit less energy but more silicon-friendly photons.

To get dye molecules to work together, they need to be wrapped individually and densely, while satisfying certain quantum mechanical requirements. The dyes are embedded inside a protein-lipid hydrogel by mixing them together, warming them up and then cooling them to room temperature. With this simple process, the material wraps around individual dye molecules, keeping them separated while packing them densely.

Rather than creating a radio-like antenna, the procedure results in a thin, pinkish film that can be coated on top of a solar cell. “It’s very simple chemistry,” Prof. Kumar says. “It can be done in the kitchen or in a remote village. That makes it inexpensive to produce.”

The journey from laboratory to commercialization is always a long and difficult one. But just imagine how this technology could transform the solar panel industry. Panels that are 30% efficient but cost no more than current panels? Where do we sign up?

August 24, 2015 1 comment

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Rooftop Solar Explained In Charts & Graphs

by Steve Hanley July 20, 2015

written by Steve Hanley

Lindsay Wilson is an Aussie living in England. He has a background in economics and has worked for Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Lots of people ask him for advice about rooftop solar systems, but the answers can sometimes get wordy and complex. He decided to reduce everything to a series of graphs so visual learners like me can get what he is saying. One of his goals is to educated homeowners so they know what questions to ask when a slick-talking salesperson from one of the local rooftop solar companies comes calling. With the knowledge Wilson provides, you will know who is legitimate and who is just blowing sunshine up your skirt.

I am not going to reproduce every one of Wilson’s graphs here, but you can view them all at your leisure at his website, Shrink That Footprint. Let’s begin with the first graph, which explains the components of a rooftop solar power system.

Next are charts showing how much sunlight falls on various regions of the Earth, what is the most efficient orientation of solar panels in your area, and the proper angle of tilt your solar system should have for maximum performance.

Federal, state, and local incentives vary widely in the US. The DSIRE website is a clickable database of all the incentives available to commercial, industrial, and residential customers in all 50 states. It’s worth browsing just to see what incentives are available where you live.

How quickly your solar system will pay for itself depends on what you pay for electricity where you live. Here is a chart of electricity costs for most of the world’s major countries. You will see that electricity in the US is much lower than many other countries, except in Hawaii, which has some of the most expensive utility rates anywhere.

Here’s one chart that shows how much carbon dioxide each country spews into the atmosphere per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated. It shows you why China, which gets most of its electricity from coal, has such problems with air pollution. And if you think China has a problem, just take a look at India!

July 20, 2015 1 comment

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Wafer-Thin Silicon Discs on Leading Edge of German R&D

by Aisha Abdelhamid July 6, 2015

written by Aisha Abdelhamid

Carrying out applied research throughout the entire process chain of wafer-based silicon solar module production, Fraunhofer CSP is currently working on improving the quality of wafer-thin silicon discs and in producing them as cheaply as possible.

July 6, 2015 0 comment

SolarEdge inverter offers advanced safety and power monitoring capabiity

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SolarEdge Inverters Now Included In More Vivint Solar Systems

by Steve Hanley May 1, 2015

written by Steve Hanley

Vivint Solar, a national home solar company, will reportedly partner with SolarEdge, one of the leading suppliers of power inverters and power optimizers, to bring leading-edge technology to all Vivint customers coast to coast, according to a recent SolarEdge press release. SolarEdge inverters have an embedded rapid shutdown capability that provides an additional layer of safety for workers and firefighters in accordance with the 2014 National Electric Code, which has been adopted in a number of states.

SolarEdge inverters also have an integrated revenue-grade metering function that will give Vivint Solar customers full access to the level of data accuracy required to collect performance-based financial incentives without the need for additional components. In other words, it keeps accurate track of system performance to make sure homeowners qualify for the best possible rate from the local utility company whether they are buying power from the grid or selling power back to the grid.

Many people think all that’s necessary to install a solar power system at home is to put a few solar panel on the roof and then sit back and enjoy free electricity. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work quite that way. The electricity we use in our homes is in the form of alternating current (AC). The electricity produced by solar panels is in the form of direct current (DC). The two do not work together. An inverter is needed in the system to convert DC to AC so it can be used in the home.

The SolarEdge inverter operates at 97% efficiency, which means only 3% of the electricity made by the solar panels is lost during the conversion process. Many other inverters on the market are only 90–92% efficient. With those devices, almost 10% of the power generated by the home solar system is wasted. SolarEdge inverters can work with either single-phase of three-phase electrical power.

“SolarEdge has established itself as a key inverter supplier to Vivint Solar,” said Jan Newman, Vice President of Business Development for Vivint Solar. “This collaboration enables Vivint Solar to continue to provide our customers with advanced technology while also improving the financials of PV to accelerate adoption across the country.”

For a Vivint Solar installer near you, visit the company website.

Image Credit: SolarEdge

May 1, 2015 1 comment

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Solar Man’s Solar Wonderland Crowdfunding Campaign Aims For $5,000,000

by Cynthia October 14, 2014

written by Cynthia

“Solar Man” is aiming to build education as the cornerstone of his new recreational venture, Solar Wonderland. Solar Wonderland is a “gigafactory” and much more. This gigafactory is for building lightweight carbon fiber solar panels as the Lotus product line expands.

Students, children, and others will enjoy a hands-on educational experience in this Energy Amusement Park. They will learn about forces of energy — electric, magnetic, gravity, strong, and weak. They will learn about forms of energy — light, heat, pressure, kinetic, and chemical.

Joe Hui calls himself the “Solar Man.” On Solar Man’s Indiegogo campaign page, Hui explains and promotes his aspirations and plans:

I am Solar Man. My passion is to help people all over the world live a comfortable yet sustainable life through the use of my inventions

Why do we want to build a Solar Wonderland? First, to meet your demand for our carbon fiber panels, we are designing a low-cost Giga-factory to build these panels. Second, the factory is going to create jobs, hundreds in manufacturing and thousands in the installation and services supported. Third, the energy amusement park can teach our students about the Physics of energy. Fourth, you can also donate solar panels to US veterans so that they can enjoy free solar electricity and hot water.

Hui’s company, Monarch Power, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to construct this GW-scale manufacturing facility and “energy amusement park” in Arizona. This is clearly an exploratory solar venture. Hui’s company manufactures “Lotus solar products,” which include a 2.4 kW portable solar flower and combined PV and solar thermal awning.

“Help Solar Man Build Solar Wonderland” shares more of this unique awning:

I am introducing the Lotus Awning, a light weight carbon fiber composite solar panel that runs a coolant through carbon fiber tubes. Cool panels give you more electricity and collect heat to give you hot water. It is not grid tied so you don’t need utility approval. If you add battery storage of electricity, you can save electricity when the sun is not shining. Better, you can save the day when natural disaster strikes. Think Super Storm Sandy.

We also plan to open an exhibit called the Circle of Energy by early next year. The exhibit hall covers a floor space of 4000 square feet. There you enjoy a 3D video called “What’s the Matter with Energy?” that explains solar power in terms of the relationship among matter, energy, space and time; all in the context from the Big Bang till the birth of our sun.

The Pima native tribes are going to lease a 5+ acre piece of land to Monarch for Solar Wonderland. The design is an 80-foot-tall Solar Pyramid topped with a Golden Sun made to rise by solar-heated air. And there is so much more….

Jobs are another important plus of the venture, clean energy jobs. Hui projects the following job needs: “The production facility will hire about 100 workers. The marketing, sales, installation, service, and applications of the Lotus line of products will create thousands of jobs.”

Incorporating education into recreation comes naturally to Dr. Joe Hui, the mastermind behind a 3D theater showing the movie “What’s the Matter with Energy,” which will be on top of the theater on the third floor in the Circle of Energy exhibit; and “Gravity,” a free-fall ride. He got his BS, MS, and PhD degrees from MIT.

Check out more details on the Indiegogo campaign page, such as rides called “Maglev Back to the Future,” “Doctor Frankenstein in the Tesla Tower,” “Alice in the Optics Wonderland,” and “The Heat is On.”

While it all looks like fun, Hui has sat an extremely ambitious target of $5,000,000. With 54 days left in the campaign, $1,120 has been raised. It is a Flexible Funding campaign, so anything raised will be collected, but it’s not clear what Hui would do with just a few thousand dollars.

October 14, 2014 4 comments

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Intro To Solar Video

by Adam Johnston July 7, 2014

written by Adam Johnston

Watch this An Intro To Solar video. This brief mico-film from Arizona utility SRP explains solar energy’s tremendous potential.

The video highlights the strong future solar can have, especially in the sunniest spots: such as the Southwestern US, including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, and parts of Texas.

California installed in the first quarter of 2014 959 MW of solar energy, an impressive amount of solar power by almost any standard.

If one day of solar radiation can provide a nation its energy needs for an entire year, imagine the potential if we harnessed much less of that sunlight but every day of the week for our energy supply?

With 142,698 jobs and growing in the US, solar is a good, clean investment with bountiful energy to power our needs. Let’s keep it up!

July 7, 2014 0 comment

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