Want Some Green Energy With That New Roof?

In 2007, Dow Chemical received $20 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop “building integrated” solar arrays for the residential and commercial markets. Which lead Dow to form the Solar Solutions business unit and invest more than $100 million in solar solutions.

This past October the company unveiled its product called Powerhouse Solar Shingles, which can be nailed to a roof like ordinary shingles by roofers without the help of specially trained solar installers or electricians. The solar shingles should cost 30% – 40% less than other solar-embedded building materials and 10% less than the combined costs of conventional roofing materials and rack-mounted solar panels, according to company officials.

The majority of solar technology today is built around silicon-based solar cells, Dow’s technology uses a much more cost-effective and durable PV material called CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide). The new thin-film technology is incorporated into the product by over-molding the cells with a proprietary Dow polymer formulation, resulting in a unique product design that has similar reveal, weight, and installation practices as an asphalt shingle.

Dow partnered with solar cell producer Global Solar Energy, one of the early developers of CIGS thin films. CIGS thin-film semiconductors are less expensive than conventional crystalline silicon solar panels and offer some of the highest conversion efficiencies of emerging thin films.

Global Solar manufactures strings of five interconnected solar cells. Dow then encapsulate each string with glass and polymers and embed it into a shingle. The 10-watt shingles are connected into a larger array by integrated rigid plug-style connectors and eventually connects to the electrical system of the house. The shingles should be installed on south-facing roofs by certified roofing contractors, and an electrician is only needed to make the final connection to the building’s electrical system. Installations can be completed in half the time of conventional solar installations.

Jane Palmieri, managing director of Dow Solar Solutions, said the shingles are the first product line to launch, but more are on the way for other building-related products. She said the shingles are a “neighborhood friendly” solution at a cost lower than large solar panels.

Limited quantities are expected to be on the market in mid 2010, with more wide distribution in 2011. A price has not been set, but Dow said it is expected to be less expensive than large solar panel systems.

Don’t you just love having a front row seat …….
…… as the green future unfolds!

Tags: asphalt shingle, climate, conversion efficiencies, copper indium, crystalline silicon, dow chemical, electrical sys, environment, Everything Solar, Going Green, Health, installation practices, Julian Niccolini, Organizations, plug style, Politics, polymer formulation, Rip Van Winkle, roofing contractors, roofing materials, Society and Culture, solar arrays, solar cells, solar shingles, solar solutions, solar technology, style connectors, thin film semiconductors, thin film technology, thin films, united states, water, Will Hoge, wind

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 10:13 am and is filed under Everything Solar, Going Green, Green Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.