Thin film, non silicon panels?

[DavidM]

Hello, just found the group. I've been following the very slow emergence
of non silicon panels, not that there is much happening. Nanosolar claim
to be producing them at last, but the website is pretty minimal.
Has anybody seen them used in the UK, or maybe even for sale?

 

[DavidM]

DavidM wrote, On 02/06/2007 15:19:

Hello, just found the group. I've been following the very slow emergence
of non silicon panels, not that there is much happening. Nanosolar claim
to be producing them at last, but the website is pretty minimal.
Has anybody seen them used in the UK, or maybe even for sale?

Forgot this is an international groups, not a uk one. I'll extend the
question to - have you seen them used anywhere, or for sale to property
developers?

 

[Erdemal]

DavidM - A while back GlobalSolar developed CIGS process on SS
substrate (on an NREL grant).
Retailers will be listed on GlobalSolar.com - Regards - SteveC

The least one can say is that these companies producing CIGS PV
are not hot to sell . It's impossible to find a place where
to buy their products (same for the revolutionary batteries,
EV cars, ... ).

This is probably part of the old renewable and sustainable
human myth of a better and brighter future.

Erdy

 

[Erdemal]

Part of the issue is that, despite all the hype and news coverage, CIGS
manufacturers simply aren't producing in large quantities yet. IIRC,
First Solar is making more CdTe panels than the entire world's CIGS
production combined. (You won't find First Solar's panels available
anywhere, though -- they're selling exclusively to large utility and
commercial customers.)

In a free market, there is always a price - high - at which you can
buy any stuff. Am I wrong?

Are there places where one can see these CIGS PV work?

On solar expo can these CIGS panels be seen?

I doubt that more than a few panels for demo have ever been build.
And they may have been fake ones

I have no doubt that technology exists, I have *doubts* on
'the market' for these matters and others.

Erdy

 

[DavidM]

R.H. Allen wrote, On 04/06/2007 03:08:

Part of the issue is that, despite all the hype and news coverage, CIGS
manufacturers simply aren't producing in large quantities yet. IIRC,
First Solar is making more CdTe panels than the entire world's CIGS
production combined. (You won't find First Solar's panels available
anywhere, though -- they're selling exclusively to large utility and
commercial customers.)

It's one thing making a large batch for one customer. Finding middlemen
able to package and distribute products to the public is all together
more difficult. I expect they, and their investors, are happy to bring
the production facilities online very slowly, knowing that the market
will be massive.
It's interesting to see a few companies developing production sites in
the US and Europe, even before they are selling the products.

 

[DavidM]

R.H. Allen wrote, On 04/06/2007 15:13:

Well, you have to have a production site before you can begin
production, right? Perhaps I misunderstand you....

Companies usually expand to meet demand. Nanosolar for example, started
building a site in Germany before the US one began producing panels.