EGEB: LONGi panels ~20/21%; Solar beer in Newcastle; Goldman Sachs buying; more

Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial and political review/analysis of important green energy news.

LONGi Solar pushes mainstream mono-PERC module to 325.6W – Entry level solar panels are 1/5th more efficient (moving from 16 to 20%) – meaning you get 20% was watts in the same roofspace.  “Mono-PERC” 60 cell solar panels in the real world at 19.91%. That’s freaking awesome. The mono-PERC bifacial product LONGi launched in 72 cell is 21% efficient front side and ~25(!!)% backside IF the conditions are solid (white roofs/high angle/proper spacing/proper open space racking structure). Trina set a 22.6% record recently with this product – so it already has upside to grow.

Header image is the second image released of the solar roof by Tesla, showed off the first yesterday. Aligns with customer solar articles later in the post.

Legislature Sustains LePage’s Veto of Solar Power Bill – “Today the people who invest in private solar systems earn their return on investment by shifting millions of dollars in grid operating costs onto those who don’t or can’t make the same investment. That is simply not fair,” said Republican Rep. Heather Sirocki of Scarborough – in  floor debate quoted an op-ed by CMP CEO Sara Burns. Standard response to this oft-repeated (and flawed) logic: Collection of Net Metering research.

Floating solar pilot projects in the Netherlands set sail – we get lots of floating solar these days, so just research isn’t that interesting – but these few words grabbed me – floating solar in rough water conditions. Rough water conditions. I want to see open ocean floating solar. First off – near infinite space relative to our needs. Ocean too rough you say? Wave models will give suggestions on the smallest sized unit (number of connected panels) that will be able to hold onto themselves in complex waves. New designs – see lower right image – will allow solar panels to flex, compress and expand in these situations. Sub-units of solar panels will be part of a mesh network that allows them to disconnect and reconnect as is needed. Low power hardware will let them shift position using current, or motors…something smart. They’ll be final assembled on back-end of ships and slowly rolled off like image on the right. Dong Energy/Statoil/Shell ought get into this business since they’re already experts at watching ocean waves and dealing…anyone got a connection to their R&D departments?

Conergy Asia sold to Goldman Sachs/Tennenbaum – Big players, with big pockets are seeing deals to acquire companies with hands in the energy market. Conergy is a big name within the industry. Goldman Sachs is a big name globally.

Celestica PV production lines offered for sale by auction – Here is a big long list of cool hardware that goes along with PV production lines – I don’t know what any of it does specifically, though I can make guesses. I really like seeing it in combination with reading about manufacturers of mono-PERC hardware (see first post in EGEB today) like Amtech and Meyer Burger: The Thailand production lines consist of the following: • (2) Complete (2015) 240 MW (Each) Capacity Solar Panel Manufacturing Lines• (1) Complete (2010) 165 MW Capacity Solar Panel Manufacturing Line• Burkle 2141 VFF Laminator (qty 6) • Burkle 2141—1 SL Light Laminator (qty 4) • Komax Xcell Automation X3 Stringer (qty 8) • Teamtechnik TT1800 Stringer (qty 2) • Teamtechnik TT1200 Stringer (qty 2) • ATN X-Bus Automated Bussing System (qty 3) • Pre-Lamination Pi4 EL Tester (qty 4) • Post Lamination Testing; Burkle Integrated Power, Pi4 EL Tester & Pasan Flasher (qty 3) • $3.0M+ New Spare Parts• $1.0M+ Raw Materials & Consumables• 6 Axis Robot – Kuka & ABB (qty 10) • Automatic String Vision Inspection Station and End of String Cutting Unit• Backsheet Manual Trimming Station (2015), (qty 4) • Weinmann Automation EVA / Backsheet Cutting Machine (qty 5) • Glass Washer with Wet and Dry Option (qty 2) • In-Line Corner Crimping Station (qty 6) • Burkle 20 Opening Buffer (FILO) Conveyor (qty 5) 
• Plus much-much more…

Wonder how much this stuff costs…anyone wanna go in with me?

Solar Glasses Generate Solar Power – We’ve all seen gadgets with solar power (calculators, garden lights). Some work better than others. Sunglasses with solar cells make a lot of sense for those carrying cell phones. I’m actually posting this because yesterday Onyx Solar sent me think link of a Coca Cola representing making their whole building facade solar glass. One of the reasons they gave was that the Onyx panels could be seen through and customized size/shape to fit aesthetic requirements. Are custom shaped solar cells now a possibility because of such broad price drops and consumer demand? Thank you @municode for that link.

Cus, you know, beer and solar power man! And because they are *off-grid* – not just solar-powered via net metering. I don’t fully want the  off-grid model, but its got its place.

Solar powered beer at @FogHornBrewpub in Newcastle ☀️🍻 pic.twitter.com/AJvqQq0v0e

— Chloe Hicks (@chloerosehicks) July 29, 2017

Header image is the second released image of the solar roof from Tesla

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