Highlights from the Solar Conferenc

dihard writes:

Last week I attended the Solar Conference in San Diego. Here are some of the highlights:

Solar & Wind Powered Street Lights

These are street lamps that employ solar and wind power for electricity. The sun and wind charge a battery that is later used to light the streets. At the expo, I saw ones designed by Everlast.

Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Systems

These are photovoltaic panels made by Greenvolts that are designed for utility-scale solar energy production (>1mW). The reflectors and receivers reside on a two-axis tracker that follows the sun, which allows them to remain “on-sun” for 20% longer than fixed solar panels.  The electricity produced is delivered and sold to the grid and distributed thereafter.

Sexy Thin Film Solar Panels

Normal Photovoltaic Panels are made of solar cells which are made of silicon wafers. These solar cells are what convert the sunlight into electricity. Recently, new technology has led to thin film solar cells, which are created with less material. This reduces costs and allows the cells to be printed on lighter and more flexible substances. Often thin-film uses resources other than silicon, including copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). I forget who makes these panels (Sharp Solar maybe?), but  it seemed that everyone at the conference thought the one on the right was tres sexy.

Big Belly

Actually, I didn’t see these guys there but I thought it’d share because it really excites me. This is a solar powered trash compacting system. It uses solar power to compact the trash, creating 5 times the waste capacity. It eliminates 4 out of every 5 collection trips, thus eliminating greenhouse gases from pick-up trucks. Watch the video.

How Solar Panels are Made

I am still not quite sure how they’re made, but this machine was fascinating to watch.

The Governator

“I know solar is everywhere. It’s the future. It’s now. It can’t be stopped. All this at this rate, the next time I see you I know I’ll be driving a solar powered hummer!”

Sun Chips made with Solar

I learned that SunChips are now living up to their name. They’re now produced with solar energy. Here’s how they do it.

Solar iPhone Holder

No, I didn’t see these there either, but as I began thinking of solar-related business ideas, a solar powered iPhone charger was on the top of my list. Here and here.

The ITC
The solar industry just saw a huge milestone, packaged up into the Economic Stabilization Package (aka the Bailout Plan). The Investment Tax Credit, which grants a 30% tax credit for investment in solar energy, was extended for eight years. The original campaign was set to end December 31, 2008 and the industry was skeptical of the possibility of an extension. But they got it. And not only that, the ceiling of $2,000 that was placed on residential ITC (that is, if I want solar for my home I get a tax credit of 30%, only up to $2,000), was lifted. That may provide a boost in residential solar demand.