Home Contact Sitemap
Sun Volt

Sun Volt Solar Blog

earth, the final frontier

Clean Energy, Clean Environment

We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment with a higher return on investment for your hard earned money. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

Sun Slates

20 Mar 08 | Solar Electric

atlantis solar sun slateAtlantis Energy Systems, headquartered in the Town Of Lagrange (Dutchess County, NY), is a key manufacturer of “Building-Integrated Photovoltaic” or BIPV systems. The advantage to BIPV is that in the integrated approach, the solar-power cells are built right into the glass, laminated like a sandwich. The finished piece becomes part of the building, serving a second function, such as roofing, shading, window glass or whatever an architect can devise.

One of their latest products is called the Sun Slate. These look like ordinary asphalt roofing shingles and attach to the roof sheathing in much the same manner. The difference is that they connect to an AC inverter via two wires. They can be used for both on grid and off grid applications. They are made to specification and therefore are more expensive than conventional PV panels.

They are another example of locally made renewable energy products that are available.

Related posts

Tags: ,

20 Mar 08 | Solar Electric | Comments (0)

Photovoltaic manufacturing starts in Kingston, NY

26 Feb 08 | General

More good news on the local renewable energy manufacturing front. From Mid Hudson News Network:

A projected 400 jobs could be coming to Ulster County within five years with the signing of Prism Solar Technologies to the Solar Energy Consortium.

For everyone who believes that the way forward is to build better renewable energy systems, this is a very good thing. From their web site:

Prism Solar manufactures a new type of photovoltaic module that uses transparent holographic optical elements in its design. This innovative, patented holographic technology, collects and spectrally selects useful wavelengths from the sun and focuses them onto the cell to create electricity.

They look like this:

holographic optical photovoltaic panel

Damn, now you have to admit, that is cool. I’d put a big array of those on a couple of tracking mounts in my front yard and call it “Performance Art.” The basic explanation of how they work and why they are better than plain old ordinary PV panels is:

(By) increasing the optical efficiency increases the structures ability to trap more of the light by better controlling the angles that the light is diffracted within the laminate. Through this process, Prism Solar can tap the sunlight at its most advantageous point in the spectrum.

This allows for several innovations:

  1. Lower cost - uses fewer cells per watt of power.
  2. Reduces the amount of silicon required up to 85%.
  3. Transparent properties, can be used as skin on large skyscrapers without completely blocking light into building.
  4. Intelligent Passive Solar Concentrator (IPSC), uses both sides of PV cell.

More information is available on Prism Solar Technology Page.

When will this start happening? Soon. Soon…

They will start production soon at their current location at the Center for Innovation on Grant Avenue in the Town of Ulster. Plans are to eventually move to Tech City. Prism Solar CEO Rick Lewandoski said production will begin as soon as machinery is installed, and that could be within just a few weeks.

Lewandowski said positions from secretaries to engineers and scientists are already in the application process, and that employment figures in the county have already been affected by the joint venture.

Courtesy of Mid Hudson News Network.

Yes, I’ll take more technology, please.

Related posts

Tags: , , , ,

26 Feb 08 | General | Comment (1)