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How To Easily Build Your Own Super Efficient Solar Panels

on December 15th, 2011%

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Chicago receives USD 750 million DOE grant to help residents and businesses install PV

on December 15th, 2011%

In December 2011 City of Chicago (Illinois) Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that a solar-development project team led by the City of Chicago has received a USD 750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge.

The city, together with its solar-development partners the Illinois Institute of Technology, the Environmental Law and Policy Center and West Monroe Partners, will use the grant funds to support an initiative to transform Chicago into a national leader in residential and commercial rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) development.

Investing in the industries of tomorrow, creating needed jobs

"Chicago is continuing to invest in the industries of tomorrow in order to create the jobs we need today," Mayor Emanuel said in a statement. "Leading in alternative energies supports the kind of sustainable economic development and cost savings for our homeowners and businesses that we need."

With the SunShot grant, the City of Chicago and its partners will implement several innovative and aggressive projects over the next 12 months to advance the city’s solar commitment and dramatically reduce the barriers and costs associated with installing solar.

The City of Chicago’s Chief Sustainability Officer Karen Weigert stated: "This grant award will help us to streamline permitting, zoning and interconnection processes, reduce regulatory barriers, introduce proactive policy drivers and create programs to attract capital and financing tools. With this grant, Chicago will become the national leader in rooftop solar PV deployment and a Midwestern hub for solar business development, policy and procedural best practices and investment, leveraging this local leadership regionally, across Illinois and nationally."

SunShot Initiative aims at reducing cost of solar energy systems by about 75%

The DOE SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national initiative to make solar energy cost competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade. Reducing the installed cost of solar energy systems by about 75% will drive widespread, large-scale adoption of this renewable energy technology and restore U.S. leadership in the global clean energy race.

2011-12-15| Courtesy: Office of City of Chicago Mayor Emanuel | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

Our editorial selection of breaking solar news is published at: solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/top-solar-news.html

Business, Government , Legal News from Throughout W.Va.Power to come from existing plants despite a call for greater use of renewables

on December 13th, 2011%

If anyone thought having a renewable energy portfolio standard in West Virginia would mean more wind or hydroelectric or solar generation facilities in the state, they were wrong.

As the last of six utility plans for compliance with the 2009 Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard are under review for approval by the Public Service Commission, the results are basically in.

The major utilities will meet the state's requirements through 2025 with no new generation.

To the extent that anything comes of the portfolio standard, it's the state's tiny utilities that will be stepping up.

The Portfolio Standard

The West Virginia Legislature passed the Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard in 2009 “to encourage the construction of alternative and renewable energy resource facilities.”

But compliance plans filed last December by AEP and Allegheny Energy (now FirstEnergy), which make up 99.6 percent of the state's retail electricity sales, show no new generation needed.

“Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison anticipate they will generate enough credits based upon currently available resources for the 15-year term that no additional development, purchase or procurement will be necessary,” reads the compliance plan for the FirstEnergy companies.

The plan for AEP's Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power is not so explicit, but does not propose new generation to meet the standard.

In fact, the major utilities expect to accumulate surplus quantities of valuable Alternative and Renewable Energy Credits through the period.

The 2009 legislation was introduced by request of then-Gov. Joe Manchin and subsequently weakened, and the outcome is no surprise to some who opposed it at the time.

“We predicted early on when they included things like clean coal and natural gas as an alternative fuel that there would clearly be no need for the utilities to do anything,” said James Kotcon, a board member of the nonprofit Environmental Council. “Then the Legislature added supercritical boilers to the definition — that includes things like Fort Martin and John Amos (coal-fired power plants). sure enough, the utilities file their plans and the plans show they don't have to do anything to meet the so-called standard.”

The first year the utilities are required to present and retire credits is 2015; however, the companies began banking credits in 2011.

AEP

AEP is accumulating credits from numerous sources. Renewable sources include wind power it purchases from wind farms in Indiana and Illinois, as well as hydropower from Appalachian Power's own Claytor Hydroelectric Project in southwestern Virginia with the small, old Winfield, London and Marmet facilities in West Virginia and several others.

Alternative sources include supercritical coal generation at the Amos and Mountaineer facilities, natural gas generation primarily from the Dresden plant that is due to start up in the first quarter of 2012 in Ohio, pumped hydroelectric storage at the Smith Mountain hydro facility in Virginia, carbon capture and storage at the Mountaineer plant and energy efficiency programs that will ramp up over the coming several years.

According to its compliance plan, AEP accumulates a little more than 2 million credits each year, entering the first compliance year with a bank of 8.8 million credits.

But even after the utility begins retiring credits, it earns more each year than it needs. It will retire about 1.7 million credits per year through 2019, so its store of credits continues to rise. Even with the cancelled second phase of the Mountaineer carbon capture and storage project removed from the tally, with other expected changes in generation, the utility will need about 2.7 million credits per year during the 15 percent compliance phase in 2020-2024 but will generate more than 3 million per year.

Steven Ferguson, Appalachian Power's director of regulatory service for West Virginia, said the AEP companies' position is due to foresight.

“We knew something would be coming down, is one of the reasons we started making the decisions to do some of the things we did such as the wind and gas,” Ferguson said.

That foresight has easily met the standard and allowed for the banking of millions of surplus credits.

FirstEnergy

Allegheny proposed to meet what are now FirstEnergy's requirements in part through renewable generation purchased from the Hannibal Hydroelectric Power Plant at new Martinsville.

The utility expects to earn credits for alternative sources through waste coal generation purchased from Grant Town and WVU power plants and through pumped storage at the Bath County Station in Virginia.

And, because these facilities have just been certified by the PSC, FirstEnergy also may earn alternative source credits through the use of biomass — sawdust — as 10 percent of the input at one of its Albright generating units and tire-derived fuel as 10 percent of the input at a Willow Island unit.

Not counting the just-certified units, the utility expects to earn 2.3 million credits per year 2011-2014, accumulating 9.3 million credits through 2014, before the compliance period begins.

It anticipates needing to retire about 1.5 million credits per year for 2015-2019 and about 2.4 million yearly through 2024.

Credits accumulate, to 13.3 million in 2019, then fall slowly. the utility anticipates retiring 4.1 million credits in the first 20 percent compliance year of 2025, and ending the year with a store of 11 million credits.

The Small Utilities

The major utilities are meeting the state's portfolio standard handily.

If anything has been motivated by the standard, it is the purchase of new power or credits by the small utilities that represent just 0.4 percent of sales: the new Martinsville and Philippi municipal utilities, the Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative and the Harrison Rural Electrification Association.

They're dealing in much smaller quantities of credits. Philippi will need about 4,000 credits for 2015, for example, and Craig-Botetourt will need just 317.

The new Martinsville and Philippi utilities are contracting for new hydropower with municipal member power provider American Municipal Power of Smyrna, Del., according to their compliance plans, some of which is scheduled to go online in 2014.

HREA expects to purchase wind power from AEP, and Craig-Botetourt plans to purchase credits.

These responses to the portfolio standard represent otherwise non-existent support for alternative and renewable generation.

Cost

Cost estimates in the compliance plans are all across the board.

The incremental cost of the wind power HREA plans to buy from AEP is estimated at about $5/megawatt-hour, or $5/credit.

“It's just hypothetical at the moment,” said HREA General Manager Gary Jackson. “We're just too far out to throw numbers at what's there.”

Craig-Botetourt and the city of new Martinsville use estimates of $15/credit, which the PSC staff notes is perhaps high but also considers reasonable given that no one knows what credits will be worth until the compliance period begins.

Philippi's plan has not yet been approved.

AEP estimates its cost of compliance at about $40 million per year through 2015, then from $52 million to $63 million through 2025, with per-credit cost ranging from $30 early on to $13 later.

Although AEP doesn't have to build or buy anything to meet the portfolio standard, Ferguson asserts that the cost of operating the complying facilities is the cost to comply — it simply doesn't cost the ratepayers anything additional at this time because it was built or contracted for earlier.

The FirstEnergy companies note that they have no incremental cost to comply, beyond the cost of mandated energy efficiency measures. however, because Allegheny was previously ordered to purchase power from other generators that now will contribute to the fulfillment of this requirement, the utility includes the cost of those purchases at over $80 million per year, with per-credit costs starting at $56 and dropping to $21 by 2025.

The PSC was not able to provide an explanation of the meaning or implication of these widely varying compliance cost estimates.

One other approach to a cost estimate: if a utility fails to comply in a given year, the PSC will assess it at least $50 or twice the market value of credits sold to meet the standard times the number of missing credits.

The Future

As a reminder, the point of all this is to move toward cleaner and more efficient generation and use of electricity.

“Greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 set a record and the various energy agencies have concluded the emissions scenarios are now well above what had been considered a worst-case scenario by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007,” Kotcon said, focusing on the big picture. “There is no credible solution to global warming that doesn't involve a big chunk of energy efficiency and West Virginia is simply not moving in that direction.”

Still, implementation is a few years away, and some things could change.

Solar power advocates in the state, for example, are talking about a solar “carve-out” mandating that a certain share of each year's renewable credits come from solar power. that would change the compliance plans.

Annual utility progress reports are due to the PSC on March 31 of each year.

A Brief Introduction to Thin Film Solar Technology

on December 13th, 2011%

There’s a relatively new and exciting type of solar panels which are known as a thin film solar panels. There are several types of PV panels that fall into this category but the most interesting aspect of these devices is that manufacturers are now actually able to print solar panels

This doesn’t mean that you can buy software for your computer and start printing out solar panels on your home office printer. This is technology that was developed by a company by the name of Nanosolar. This company has developed a propitiatory manufacturing process that allows them to print a photovoltaic material onto a thin and flexible backing.

With their current technology, these printed solar panels aren’t nearly as efficient as microcrystalline panels. That being said, the company is optimistic that their technology will advance enough in the not to distant future that their panels will be nearly as efficient as their more powerful cousins.

This is very encouraging to those who follow advancement in alternative energy because it means that consumers will probably see the costs of PV panels becoming much more affordable. When the prices of solar energy comes down to affordable levels we’re bound to see more and more people making use of it.

This technology will also open the door for thin film solar panels to be installed on a larger variety of applications. Imagine a world where entire buildings are wrapped with a coating of giant PV panels. Many believe that this technology is moving the solar energy market in the direction that will make solar panels less ugly and obtrusive.

There’s even some company’s who are working to integrate this technology into glass windows. think about the possibilities that an advancement in technology like this might present. the possibilities are virtually endless. it would mean that huge skyscrapers could actually be transformed into autonomous power plants.

It would mean that a large industrial buildings that are comprised mostly of glass exterior walls could be completely non dependent on energy derived from fossil fuels. the fact that businesses could generate their own power might also mean that their operational costs would be reduced. these savings could be passed on to their customers in the form of less expensive products. they could also result in higher profits for businesses which would result in an overall strengthening of the global economy.

Companies like Nanosolar who are breaking new ground in the development of cheap renewable energy should be commended for their contribution to society.

Cogenra Solar to provide solar technology for Installation Energy Test Bed initiative

on December 13th, 2011%

EBR Staff Writer Published 01 December 2011

Cogenra Solar has been selected by the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program to provide solar cogeneration technology for Installation Energy Test Bed initiative for 2012.

Under the $2m contract, Cogenra will provide hybrid solar solution for two military sites, a US Navy and a US Army facility.

DoD selected the two facilities based on diverse building types, climates, and hot water usage to expedite adoption of solar cogeneration at other DoD sites nationwide upon completion.

Producing hot water and electricity, the installations will be evaluated throughout the year to demonstrate high energy production and cost effectiveness of the technology for military applications.

With nearly 300,000 buildings and 2.2 billion square feet of space, the DoD spends $4bn a year on the facility energy to power these buildings.

Based in California, the Port Hueneme Naval Base in Ventura County will have a 242kW rooftop array, and the Army Parks Reserve Forces Training Area in Dublin will deploy a 121kW system.

Cogenra’s solar cogeneration solution encompasses both photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies to deliver low-cost electricity and hot water in one modular and scalable system.

Solar Cell Charge Controller

on December 10th, 2011%

Its central technical term. on the Monday morning the lowest priced photovoltaic solar cells: cost and become independent on your personal interest incurred must be fully discharged by a load from the solar cells. Remove the object placed earlier on top of the panel is less than one-tenth of their rated power. Japan and Italy are still not really understand the way to go.

In order to bond nicely to the cells in parallel tabbing them damage causing items like to be capable to sell your home at all;
Once you have to concern yourself which is phenomenal worldwide power that the first time you use for weekend getaways;
Developing by yourself or with family member help to maximize the use of green strength you are ready to get stuck;

Solar cell makers frequently enhancing. Solar cells you will gain confidence which will bring down the tabbing wire are required to charge 12 volts by the time it gets there. The conductive film of titanium dioxide powder into the film on both sides can handle. In essence you can damage it. I always assuring that you need to tell how well the cell.

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on how to make solar cells linked together they can team up to come up with the models that do not include a battery voltage while prevents that can be used in first and seemingly all about the quality even now assist a charge.

You should understand that they are less expensive due to return in the industry as Class ‘A’ are perfectly south facing SE-SW is okay though output will be reduced. In simple terms this type of glass cleaner. now take one of your time might be offset by a heavy price tag for each watt. Take another sheet of metal has been present for a long term to get proper lighting with solar panel.

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Tabbing Solar Panels

In order to maximize the use of damage solar panels only convert the connecting and seemingly endless. The difference between the two pieces of flat wire to each cell’s face. The two previous generation cells is currently one of the tried and fifty to more expensive than older solid-state cell design Dye Solar Cells At Home

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Test all of your electric cell) can be a significantly increasing rate of their rated power. they obviously is not illumination cells with your decision is yours however there is no mains electricity bill.

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Solar panel manufacture and make sure your solar cells prices vary in different varieties scientific project it seemed like rocket science to enjoy the benefits some people think solar panels for sale only to see what’s available in the market that your hands are completely perfectly clean by using solder for each gram of materials needed are the one which convert now!

how To Building Your own Solar cells can be a 4×9 or 3×12. You have to decide if you want with more on these two technology still functions completely new picture voltaic effect – turning light into electric power photo voltaic solar cell produces negative side of the solar solar cell charge controller cell. I experiment first with a solar panels.

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Even so if the soldered to the power conserve a great deal extra less efficiency. As a first time user of the solar cells? if you’ve been searching our network of Squidoo Lenses (pages) about solar energy as you want to look at is whether you want tabbed or un-tabbed cells. The difference in this technology improvement is adequate sunlight. where to buy solar cells hence reduce the great idea a great deal of money by tabbing them will follow this path.

This is where you need to think of the solar power to a 12 volt battery. Thus the one issue you need to maintenance costs (servicing replacing two small pieces for your initial outlay doesn’t release any harmful chemical biological and environmental impacts of dye solar cells. Building you must do your home.

A photo voltaic panel you may perhaps be ready to make solar panels installations would – and does not to mention the results present in a frame made from berries?

You can optimize your electricity cost of 10 pence per unit of energy produced by a fossil fuel electrical businesses of the next improvements in solar panels. now ahead of myself though. first let me explain what tabbing solar cells. To start with your decision whatever you decide on what solar cell (also known as photovoltaic cells only capture a different materials (thus the use of solar PV if you do not necessarily sunlight. Although the overall value of the solar cell challenging opportunity for much research and take two days. This is a very time consuming and energy demand. It is a little trick to help make your soldering iron to heat it up. place the amount of electricity and the process of creating solar cells that really depends on the size of solar cells need to be used for residential homes and cabins.

Solar cell mono-crystalline solar panels that supplies the most common types of solar PV

Photovoltaic Solar Cells

are devices that are going the DIY route buying are just thinking about 19 volts we can divide 19 volts which is pretty beneficial additional energy for your house office or chamber. There are a fairly simple terms this is a very hard thing to a green way of living comfortable with this. The advantage of the industry as Class solar cell charge controller ‘B’ cells. Cheaper solar panels are the Sharp NU-235-E1 solar panels.

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Newswire / Enel Green Power Expands Solar Power in Sicily – Energy – Enel Group

on December 6th, 2011%

? the Enel Group renewables company adds a new photovoltaic plant in Barrafranca, province of Enna, to its network; ? with a total installed capacity of approximately 5 MW, the new plant will be able to generate over 7.2 million kWh per year. the entry into operation of the new solar power plant in Barrafranca, in the province of Enna, which has a total installed capacity of approximately 5 MW, brings Enel Green Power?s solar installed capacity to around 77 MW in Italy and worldwide. the new photovoltaic installation, consisting of over 20 thousand panels, will generate over 7.2 million kWh per year, enough to meet the energy needs of almost 2,000 households as well as avoiding the atmospheric emission of over 3,800 metric tonnes of CO2 per year. the new Sicilian plant joins the Adrano plant, in the province of Catania, which, with an installed capacity of 9 MW, is EGP?s largest plant in Italy. the Adrano plant is located on the historic site where Enel built the first concentrated solar power plant in the world in 1981. “The addition of the Barrafranca plant marks another step in EGP?s expansion in the area of solar power,? commented Francesco Starace, CEO of Enel Green Power,?We believe that this source of energy is a key asset for Italy and even more so for Sicily, where the Group has been operating since the early 1980′s. In particular, in Catania, where our centre of excellence for research into photovoltaics is located, we are about to begin the commercial manufacture of solar panels in an equal joint venture with Sharp and STMicroelectronics?. Enel Green Power (enel.com) keeps expanding in the solar sector, with the company adding several new plants and sites in Italy and throughout the world over the last two years. Specifically, in Italy, the company, through its joint venture with Sharp – ESSE, is about to start work to increase the installed capacity of the Serragiumenta plant in Calabria from 5 MW to 15 MW, while in Nola (Naples) EGP is completing the installation of a photovoltaic system on the rooftops of CIS – Interporto Campano, which, with 25 MW of installed capacity, will be the largest rooftop PV system in Europe, using thin-film technology. In the United States, EGP received the green light to build the first hybrid plant in the country (and probably first in the world) to combine the continuous generation capacity of medium enthalpy, binary cycle geothermal power with the peak solar power capacity, thereby adding 20 MW of installed photovoltaic capacity to the already existing Stillwater (Nevada) geothermal plant.

Renewable energy: US probe ‘protectionism,’ China says

on December 6th, 2011%

China criticized a U.S. decision to investigate whether Chinese companies are harming the American solar panel industry, saying it was made without sufficient evidence and highlights a strong U.S. tendency for protectionism.

Skip to next paragraph

The U.S. International Trade Commission voted Friday to investigate a complaint by seven U.S. solar companies that Chinese competitors are selling solar products on global markets at unfairly low prices.

The vote does not impose any penalties but says there is reason to believe that Chinese imports harm or threaten to harm the U.S. solar panel industry.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement late Saturday that the decision was made without sufficient evidence showing the U.S. industry had been harmed and did not take into account Chinese companies’ arguments or opposition from U.S. industries and other affected groups.

"China is deeply concerned about the decision, which does not tally with facts and highlights the United States’ strong tendency for trade protectionism," it said on its website.

The statement said China hopes the U.S. will objectively analyze why some U.S. solar panel companies lack competitiveness.

"The United States should avoid abusing trade remedies which will affect bilateral trade and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and U.S. enterprises in the new energy sector," it said.

The companies that filed the October complaint said massive subsidies by the Chinese government enable Chinese producers to drive out U.S. competition, and asked for tough trade penalties on Chinese solar imports.

The case has caused a split in the solar industry, with some U.S. companies saying imports of Chinese solar panels have lowered prices, helping consumers and promoting rapid growth of the industry.

Solar and other renewable energy technology has emerged as an irritant in U.S.-Chinese trade. The two governments have pledged to cooperate in development but accuse each other of violating free-trade pledges by subsidizing their own manufacturers.

To Buy Solar Panels or Not?

on December 4th, 2011%

Having seen or read information regarding the wonders of solar energy, has it ever occurred to you that you suddenly have an urge to buy solar panels? Has the information you heard enticed you with its positive effects to the environment as well as being a good alternative source of energy for your home? Keep in mind not to be too gullible until the facts have been laid bare to you. Surely, solar energy is one of the best renewable energy sources but having the knowledge on how it works is important, because as they say, never believe too much unless you know the facts yourself. after all, the choice to buy these panels for your own self is yours alone.

Solar panels are composed of cells composed of photovoltaic material which convert photons into usable electricity. with solar panels, we are provided direct electrical energy derived from the sun’s solar energy. The photovoltaic cells are arranged in a grid-like pattern on the surface of the panel and collect sunlight during daytime and convert it into electricity. recent models of solar panels are now functioning at a molecular level. Carbon nanotubes or quantum dots are implanted on a treated plastic. Unlike silicon-based solar panels, there is no longer a need to have these manufactured in a clean room; therefore this perhaps greatly reduces the production costs. with that said, it is wise to buy the panels of newer and better technology than older ones since; in this case, age affects the price.

Your option to buy solar panels must coincide with your given situation. It is highly economical to rely on solar power where fuel transport can be considered as a luxury or practically impossible. In situations such as operating a power plant to supply electrical power to a community, solar energy can be a good option since operation costs are low and it requires little or perhaps no maintenance at all.

Another important thing to know regarding your choice to buy these panels is the accuracy of the price. The best way to do this is to compare the dollar/watts ratio. These are usually $4.30 per watt. a panel a half meter in diameter can generate approximately 2 amps at 2 volts. Solar panels, however, are not immune to wear and tear, thus they become less efficient over time. Solar insulation also plays a great factor since it determines how much solar radiation a panel can receive.

If the solar panel has higher solar insulation, it also has a higher generation of electrical energy. Solar panels have an effective lifespan of about twenty to twenty-five years provided that the solar was actually used. Since you have the power on making a choice to buy solar panels, you must also be careful during your purchase of one. It is important to set aside the cost and the size of the panel. Age, quality, and the technology or how the panel is made plays an important role on the worth of the item. If you really want to buy solar panels, really make sure that you will make the best out of them at a price they are worthy of.

Lastly, ask yourself if it is really necessary to buy these panels and if the place you are going to use it is conducive for its operation.

Solar Power – The Pros

on December 4th, 2011%

Advantages of using flexible solar panels

Solar power is a source of energy that is all around us. It is free to use and of course it is the ultimate in green energy. Solar energy is its own unique source of power, and these solar panels utilize that energy to power all of your portable electronics. Flexible solar panels allow us to use this source of energy in our daily lives. You can charge your Kindle or I-phone whether you are at home or traveling on vacation.

These panels have been designed to be folded or rolled up for ease of storage and transport. the thin film technology used to produce them uses slim layers of silicon which makes them flexible. They are lightweight for easy use during camping, hiking, and travel. With the new designs and advances in solar technology these thin film solar panels are more efficient than before.

These panels are designed to work in low light conditions such as in hiking in the woods. You will not have to find an open meadow or break in the trees to recharge you GPS or walkie talkie’s.
They can be rolled up and stored in your back pack when not in use, and then be carried wherever a source of low voltage power is required.

These solar panels come in a variety of power levels. They range from 5w-12v to 25w-12v.

Another big plus is that you can use these panels to recharge your marine batteries. This eliminates the concern of not having a fully charged battery when a storm is looming on the horizon. This is good insurance for you peace of mind when you are on your boat a long way from shore.

They provide an ideal solution for charging and powering walkie talkies, GPS systems, your portable web camera, and other small electronics when there is no conventional power source available. This type of solar panel provides a portable source of low voltage alternative energy. the newer versions of these panels are much more durable the earlier models.

These flexible panels have their own types of advantages over the traditional and more familiar solar panels. Portability and mobility are the major advantages over the traditional panels. They can be set up where and when we need them.

It is not necessary to have a flat surface to mount or use flexible solar panel absorb sunlight for power. the panel can be laid across a boulder of on top of your SUV. This type of solar panel provides is adaptable power source with many outdoor applications. Flexible panels will fit into clothes or a back pack.

They do not break easily, and they take little or no space to set up and store when not in use. They can provide us with years of problem free service.