SOLAR ELECTRIC MODULES
There are many manufacturers of solar panels in the world. The leading ones are Japanese companies and Sharp Electronics is by far the largest producer in the world. We have sold many brands of PV panels in our business, but have found the best satisfaction in the Sharp products. The U.S. plant for Sharp Solar is in Memphis Tennessee. 224 watt sharp panels are available now and this summer the 170s and 224s will become the basic panels of choice. With the international market for solar driving every marketing decision, there is a fairly constant fluctuation in wattage and size, but the available panels generally do the job with some system redesign. We carry Sharp 80s, 123s, 170s, 224s and whatever is available with each months allocation. Feel free to call for prices. We also have a selection of small panels by various manufacturers for those with mini-power needs.
Though there were several price increases in 2006 and 2007, things seem to have leveled out a little. Now we're seeing big price increases are in batteries and wire.
For specs on the Sharp panels, visit the >solar.sharpusa.com< website.
There has been a lot of talk and some progress in the thinfilm, "nano-solar" realm. We would like to give you our take on this aspect of the market. Though these technologies have shown some promise for lower prices and faster production, we are not sufficiently convinced that they have the quality and longevity of the silicon cells. When tests show degrading and lower efficiency with no guarantees on longevity it is difficult for us to recommend the product to our customers. Solar's stability, reliability and longevity have been the hallmarks of our industry. No other energy source has anywhere near the longevity of silicon solar cells so, for now, we are not seeking a source for thinfilm products. We suggest you do some research on the internet to try to find the answers to your thinfilm questions.