Feeding In Renewable Energy Breakthroughs

I suggest you post this at Change.gov so it can be presented to the new administration

Would your system work in the setting of a Children’s Aviation Center, Air park Restaurant?  I’m looking for $6,000,000.00 ‘ear marked’ funding to set up 10 such Centers:  five in Michigan five in florida.  By using a lot of large model airplanes as wind vanes - we hope to replace their motors with generators and harness wind power in that manner.  We will add in geo-thermal—by simple application of tunnels around and under buildings.  And you Solar system would be ‘light years’ ahead of the old style photovoltalic Cells.  We will (ah, visit http://www.navalairestates1.com to see our first ‘complex’ down here in SW Florida.  I am planning for five in Fl. and 5 in Michigan. Eventually 150 - 200 nationwide.

Also look at the American Classic Automobile Factorys concept.  Maybe alternative energys could help run them, too.  Bob McDonagh

The present system of distributing power for profit,is not sustainable,we need to generate our own power on site, so forget the big profit companys, and focus on supplying cheap solar panels to the people, through the alternative power companys already trading in setting up home power systems, the time for change is here!!!!!

I feel it is unfortunate that such an important topic is started with such an unprofessional and insulting comment as the line: “people in Washington are running around with their hair on fire looking for schemes”. 

Please explain in more detail.  I am closely involved with energy fusion policy for our nation, and Canada, India and Pakistan.  Explain in detail what you mean.

I am a typical middle to lower middle class american.
I would love to outfit my home with solar power TODAY!
I cannot afford to spend my life saving to outfit the house for a 10 year payout with technology that will be obsolete within 2-3 years. Unless people like me are subsidized to adopt and spur the technology, it won’t blossom nearly as soon as it could.

The idea is a good one. In order to pass, however, the public will have to be convinced that it is worth the rate hike of, in the $0.15 instance, around 30%.

I am a retired, U. S. citizen, investor, and do not have any ax to grind, nor selfish interest to hawk.  We in the U. S. have been inundated with carefully-chosen words of expert spin doctors in recent years, and I believe I speak for all in saying that “We are sick of it.”  Whatever industry, or interest, or political polemic has an interest in this matter, let us hope and pray they are capable of looking to what is best for the nation, transitionally, and in the long term.  Bogging down of progress in the individual states may be, or may not be, the “ideal” way to gain the greatest good.  As for me, I believe the best interests of the nation as a whole, the economy as a whole, and national security as a whole, lie in cutting the red tape, and thereby cutting both expense and time to get on with what must be done.  The best information I have on global warming and greenhouse emissions is that some eighty percent, or more, of scientists agree that the data indicates it is serious; and more of those opposed are moving over to the “it is serious” side.  And, even if the vast majority are dead wrong on that, the need for cheap, alternative energy would do NO HARM in that context, while providing unquestionable good in freeing the
U. S. from critical dependence on a Middle East source of energy.

Let reality be our guide.  And, I am convinced, from much study and thinking through on my own, that we need to get solar energy sources under control of a uniform set of procedures and regulations, designed to do the right thing, and do it faster and at less expense and hassle.  That is what MAKES THE MOST SENSE to me. 

Government subsidies stifle innovation and reward special interests.  If your product cannot hack it in the marketplace, then it should wither on the vine.
IggyDalrymple

Government subsidies stifle innovation and reward special interests.  If your product cannot hack it in the marketplace, then it should wither on the vine.
IggyDalrymple

Well done, good concept as I believe ?there is beauty in simplicity?; and therein is part of the problem. It makes to much sense, it is as though the concept needs bells and whistles to complicate it, and vested interests can take their pound of flesh so to speak. Add-ons, tag-a-longs, and pride: not thought of here, it all does all our collective best interest a disservice. Getting the concept in front of a decision make is harder than coming up with the idea.

My Apostle Methodology is similar being so simple and able to generate 7+ times the power. It is not that it is the end game of a commercial product; but none of the dominant industry companies will take a look at it, or give you the consideration of your effort to contact them. Nanosolar is at the top of that list. It is just a shame to think there is so much ingenuity out there, perhaps not with PhD?s associated with their names but good ideas, and that is where it all starts.

I live in Madison Wisconsin where a local utility (Madison Gas and Electric) is already offering $.25/kwh for a residential-grid connected PV system on a 10 year contract.  You don’t have to wait for the feds!  Also Nanosolar better pour a bucket of water over it’s head and put out a residential scaled CIGS unit before other systems come out and grab the big market share.

Well done, good concept as I believe ?there is beauty in simplicity?; and therein is part of the problem. It makes to much sense, it is as though the concept needs bells and whistles to complicate it, and vested interests can take their pound of flesh so to speak. Add-ons, tag-a-longs, and pride: not thought of here, it all does all our collective best interest a disservice. Getting the concept in front of a decision make is harder than coming up with the idea.

My Apostle Methodology is similar being so simple and able to generate 7+ times the power. It is not that it is the end game of a commercial product; but none of the dominant industry companies will take a look at it, or give you the consideration of your effort to contact them. Nanosolar is at the top of that list. It is just a shame to think there is so much ingenuity out there, perhaps not with PhD?s associated with their names but good ideas, and that is where it all starts.

Why should competing solar energy technologies have to fight the same battle in each of fifty states, and numerous localities, to compete for price with other similar products?  Would not MOST states, if they care more about their citizens than about perks from established energy sources, gladly ratify an interstate compact that would grant to the central government a single set of
rules required to be complied with?  Why should the COSTS of working through the SAME RED TAPE in fifty different states and multiple localities be passed along to buyers?  Who needs the delay?  Who needs the added costs?  Who… other than currently established energy sources that might lose some market to cheaper, cleaner sources?  Can’t they use some of their profits to buy in to needed change, instead of benefiting market-wise from delays and increased costs of solar energy in competing in the energy market?

How fiendishly CLEVER to assert that subsidies for solar energy play to the hand of special interests.  Who ARE these special interests.
The oil and gas industries have been subsidized for DECADES !  Anybody falling for THAT one?

I think the scenario is workable IF we the people can purchase the technology. Currently the only customers are the monopoly power companies. That’s not my idea of a disruptive technology.

It is not a subsidy but job-creating public investment.
Variations on the theme: 1. Select a list of energy producing technologies qualifying for public investment, e.g. PV or residential wind micro-turbines 2. apply a national feed-in tariff, calculated so that it repays the initial investment in, say, 10 years 3. The feed-in tariff extra cost (i.e. in addition to the national average electric energy cost per watt) is spread equally among all energy consumers, from Alaska to Puerto Rico 4. The feed-in tariff expires after a number of years. After that, surplus energy is compensated at the local fee. 5. Residential investment (e.g. solar roof) are tax deductible but over a 10 year period 6. residents can invest in cooperative renewable energy “farms”, enjoying the same tax and feed-in fee advantages as those who actually put PV on the roof. In other words, an Orange County resident can invest in a Wyoming wind farm and still receive his/her share of the corresponding feed-in tariff and tax credit
Sounds crazy?

It is my belief that upcoming renewable electricity generation and electrical storage will reach technological maturity in the next decade. It is essential that a North American electrical transaction marketplace start to be be developed now. Linked to our existing financial systems, it would convert the continental, regional, local and private electrical grids into neutral electricity “brokers” within an electrical free market economy. An economy in which electricity can be bought and sold by public, corporate and private entities. I believe that creating this focus now will initiate the right incentives to promote a broad new expansion by small to large business in the areas of: electrical technology manufacturing; and electricity generation/consumption. Whether to encourage building a municipal-sized solar farm, to install a home wind generator, to provide electrical charge sockets at corner stores for electric vehicles, or enabling a taxi company to charge for a passenger to recharge their electronic device while in transit, these are all examples of the very interesting potential for the upcoming “electrical” economic revolution. I think a review of the rise in transaction numbers and dollar amounts on the Internet are a perfect comparison for the potential growth of a similar marketplace in electricity. And finally, to further stimulate this kind of marketplace, power grids need to be their own business entities, separated from power generating interests. Entities that own both will be too tempted to give themselves preferential treatment, stifling the marketplace with their own monopolistic agendas.

Anyway you slice this one we are going to be in deep trouble if we don’t get on with becoming energy independent. Oil is finite. We are using oil globally at the rate of 2 X faster than new oil is being discovered. The high price of fuel the previous year has brought America to it’s knees and done serious damage to our economy and society. Our nation better wake up and smell the coffee and realize oil is finite, it is running out faster than anyone realizes and it is time to get on with utilizing alternative sources of energy. Use some of those bail out baillions to bail America out of it’s dependence on foreign oil. Create clean energy and new jobs. Hopefully our new administration will move forward with this very important issue. I just read a really good book called The Manhattan Project of 2009 by Jeff Wilson.I highly recommend this book for anyone concerned about out economy and America’s need to become more energy independent. http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com

I AGREE! trouble is that Mr Roscheisen is busy thinking of just how big the bucks are when the feds are subsidizing - and laying out a guarantee if you can finagle yourself under the wire - if Nanosolar won’t very soon release a residential product that fulfills all their hype - then to be blunt - screw them and let the market produce another innovator that will dispense with all the subsidy crap and let the consumer/homeowner do this MUCH more effeciently for THEMSELVES by providing this technology at an affordable cost-

yea - just what we need—yet ANOTHER watchdog beaur-o-crat-ick agency to get busy trying to prolong it’s own life regardless of it’s mandated oversite duties and sucking up government dollars - ever wonder how much it costs to administrate such “mandates” as compared to the eventual benefits - i’ll bet the costs are horrific-

I AGREE! trouble is that Mr Roscheisen is busy thinking of just how big the bucks are when the feds are subsidizing - and laying out a guarantee if you can finagle yourself under the wire - if Nanosolar won’t very soon release a residential product that fulfills all their hype - then to be blunt - screw them and let the market produce another innovator that will dispense with all the subsidy crap and let the consumer/homeowner do this MUCH more effeciently for THEMSELVES by providing this technology at an affordable cost-

yea - just what we need—yet ANOTHER watchdog beaur-o-crat-ick agency to get busy trying to prolong it’s own life regardless of it’s mandated oversite duties and sucking up government dollars - ever wonder how much it costs to administrate such “mandates” as compared to the eventual benefits - i’ll bet the costs are horrific-

i am in favor of stand alone and feed the grid apps. best for we the people, best for the sickly grid, best for economic stimulation, job creation, new and retrofitting.  No problems in brown outs,, blackouts, safety/security.  One thing that can take off in this lousy oil dependent energy picture is bringing the average joe (the electrician) WAYS TO PRESERVE HIS OWN MONEY against skyrodketing energy costs.  I have forayed into regulations and incentives finding them a lousy patchwork written for already outdated technology with an overlaying patchwork of local control.  In NY there is a zoning board in every locality and county!!! double stuffed.

A flat rate across the country is a good first approximation, howbeit a poor equalizer between regions that have varying environmental parameters.  Florida and Alaska are at the extremes of both geography and climate. 

The developing world needs support of developed world for harnesing the potential of alternate energy resources such as solar power the carbon credit finantial support to be inbuilt in grants on installation of solar plants through some approed vendors to make it cheaper and affordable cost of pollution which is a saving in case of solar plant to be reimbursed as regular subsidy and tax benefits to lower the cost of installation .
shailendra tiwari
http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/s/shailendra

Simplifying the bureaucracy is a great idea. A national flat rate is not! I live in the Pacific Northwest where we pay a little over 7 cents per KWH. I do not endorse a national flat rate that is double current market in my neighborhood. I would endorse a geographically sensitive competitive market rate with a small premium (say 10-20%) for renewables.

Subsidies to special interests? All major infrastructures and capital-intensive utilities are or have been heavily subisidized by governments. How about the highways in California? Taxpayer money to provide a free five-lane road to individual drivers and to support the car industry. Is it a violation of the free market principle?

Ups, I forgot: a national feed-in tariff would marginally increase the cost of electricity for all US consumers for a number of years. Can we call it the cost of independence? After all, somebody in Vally Forge already decided to make some sacrifice for the common good.

I have to agree with building a system that is designed for the home owner and not specifically for big industry. I know that over in Holland, they use a lot of wind mills and one of the biggest problems is “rolling brown outs” or rolling black outs. This is caused by wind speed changes constantly. *PERHAPS* - Perhaps they should not be looking at this as substituting electric being generated for the nation or region but as electric being generated for the individual house hold. From what I understand, the electric companies would rather sell to business and industry because business and industry use a lot more and therefore pays more for that electricity. Develop a system that will require less or no electricity for a home owner so that the Utility companies have more electricity to sell to the businesses. Perhaps the systems in homes can substitute back to the power companies. (And for the homes that make some extra power on the side to sell to the power company, perhaps regulations or legislature, that does not allow the local municipalities to tax that income as an income producing property unless it goes over a certain amount??)

Of course it is a good idea, the question is why it took so long to be formulated so clearly. The key is in a stable, simple, national, transparent regulatory framework.

I agree as well. It addition it would be helpfull for several people to get actual information regarding possible small nano-solar-solutions (e.g. for single family homes).

This is one essential part of any sustainable renewal energy policy.  However, looking at our current economic realities I believe one prudent strategy would be for the federal Government to set aside at least haft the proposed stimulus package to be leveraged as Government guarantied small business R&D and startup loans in the fields of both technology research, power generation and services. These loans would be zero percent balloon payment terms and grants. These small businesses would be free of paying taxes at both the state and federal levels for five years. The federal and state Governments can possibly take warrants in these companies to be later exercised when they go public.  Obviously these companies business plans need to focus on job creation as a major justification for funding. I believe just as the industrial revolution brought jobs and wealth creation opportunities spurring leaps in infrastructure, transpiration,  and technology innovation; renewable energy has the same dynamic market creation and change drivers that will lead this nation once more as the innovation thought-leaders. 

This is one essential part of any sustainable renewal energy policy.  However, looking at our current economic realities I believe one prudent strategy would be for the federal Government to set aside at least haft the proposed stimulus package to be leveraged as Government guarantied small business R&D and startup loans in the fields of both technology research, power generation and services. These loans would be zero percent balloon payment terms and grants. These small businesses would be free of paying taxes at both the state and federal levels for five years. The federal and state Governments can possibly take warrants in these companies to be later exercised when they go public.  Obviously these companies business plans need to focus on job creation as a major justification for funding. I believe just as the industrial revolution brought jobs and wealth creation opportunities spurring leaps in infrastructure, transpiration,  and technology innovation; renewable energy has the same dynamic market creation and change drivers that will lead this nation once more as the innovation thought-leaders.

I thoroughly agree. I have been on Nanosolar?s e-mail list for over a year now. In that time I?ve been telling anyone with even a modicum of interest in the subject, about Nanosolar and its innovations, hoping to hear frequently, but rather having to dig diligently for news. And although I have looked at Nanosolar’s revolutionizing process and materials and agree that it has the potential to radically shift the energy power base in THE WORLD; I say, “BRING IT ON.” We as human beings need to move forward. These ideas like so many before them, need not be suppressed, shelved, or paused in the hopes of government approval and/or government monetary support. Come on Nanosolar, you are a privately owned company. You don’t have the expectations of your publicly traded counterparts. If you don’t have: (1) faith in your product(s), (2) take a more radical approach to changing the energy power base and, (3) release your concepts and products to the eagerly awaiting, energy thirsty, CO2 choking world…then pack up your bags, because you’ve just missed the last train to being recognized as a company that wants to be different in more than just capitalizing on another idea like so many before you. I for one am not waiting, and have been banding with those who think and believe as I do, who see that we need to BE the Government (make the necessary energy changes in our homes and work places) instead of pleading to the government (waiting on Washington to create policy). The bottom line is that we need people, not policy…people willing to bite the bullet (financially by building these technologies in their garage if necessary, and socially by suffering potential ridicule for stepping outside the purely capitalistic paradigm). If you find yourself nodding to these statements, great! If you are ready to make a difference, then prove it! There are some strange notions as to how we might replace current technology, and much has been suppressed due to its potential to be abused and more likely for its potential to not line someone?s pocket. We only deserve these new technologies if we learn to appreciate what we have, and approach them with the good of all people (not being hermits with these technologies or just wanting to make a buck and ditching the rest of humanity) in mind and for the good of all people (sharing what you learn with friends, family, and neighbors?hopefully working on these technologies with them). Am I preaching? Absolutely! Eh, who am I kidding? You?ll probably just click on another site, chuckle to yourself, and not give it a second thought. Or will you?  http://peswiki.com/index.php/Main_Page

The alternative energy push is imperative at this time. The more people direct their attention and energy the quicker and more successfully we can reach our goals of a sustainable economy in alternative fuels.
Please come and check out what Valcent is doing with regards to their algae biofuel technology. Come and visit their new blog to see newest developments, recent pictures as well as recent featured articles.
http://blog.valcent.net
Please feel free to contribute your comments and thoughts!
All the best,
Jessica Brock
Valcent

If you want to see solar take off NOW, then change the focus away from the creation of massive gigawatt installations that require land, new distribution infrastructure, massive government support and the leaping of endless hurdles created by those whose interests lay elsewhere.

Place that focus on developing a solar roofing shingle that is efficient, affordable, easy to install, repairable and doesn’t make a house look like an electronic gadget on steroids. It should look like, well, a roofing shingle. A couple colors would also be nice. Seems to me that the technology exists today to create such a product, only the desire is lacking.

To those with the ability to bring such a product to market, take note. People around the world are ready NOW. We don’t need massive government funding or policy changes. We already own the rooftops and yes we are willing to invest some of our hard earned money in this technology if the cost/benefit makes sense. The roofing installation industry already exists and there are few hurdles that could be created by people whose primary interests lie in fossil fuels. There would be one problem; keeping up with demand!

Although PV has its great potential especially in a country with large desert areas, there are a couple of seroius and potentially rather expensive drawbacks:

1. Transportation over extremely large distances (especially from the less developed south, where most of the production will be to the nord)
2. unsolved storage of excess day production and its release during night
3. PV elements won`t became limitless cheaper, their output performance also will not get signifcantly better than 30 % of the solar irradiance,  currently marketed paneels are at best around 10 -12 %. You may not have the same effect as it was with transistors, where was always more performance at always smaller volume and price! A solar PV needs a certain minimum of rather expensive materials, overmore has a rather limited live span of about 30 years, with a decrease of performance over the years.
4. In Switzerland there are houses, the energy needed for heating and sanitary hot water year round can be produced with thermal solar collectors by means of a large water storage tank. A six family block near Burgdorf needs a 180 000 Liter tank placed in the middle of the house. (http://www.jenni.ch)
5. Also in US, beside traffic, the far greatest energy consumption is for heating (and cooling). A great deal of the fossil and electric heating energy could in fact be replaced by thermal solar collectors combined with storage tanks at much less the the cost of PV energy. Individually, at ones home place, without expensive transportation cost, extremely longliving and reliable!

Huvo has a point. We need heat and it is available at much less cost than PV.

First of all, I think it’s a great and simple idea.
Maybe it would be appropriate to bring to the discussion the issue of the “hiddden costs”, which will eventually blow up on our faces, toxic waste in landfills and water streams comes to mind.

We need to get the numbers for the cost component of a war to assure our country of energy supplies, the cost of CO2 emissions…

Let’s just say that someone will eventually have to pay these costs, is this the legacy we want to leave to our grandsons?     

Does current energy running through overhead wires lose 50 percent of its power en route to its destination. Why not put NANOSOLAR on top of commercial buildings in SW FL and at least pay for their own power and possibly more. A good incentive would be to get back state mandated “green space” (horticultural land).

I believe these large scale ideas ore good but there are also other ways of doing it.I have submitted a patent for a solar windmill which primarily uses the existing lihgt poles as a base feeds the grid all day using both wind and solar and while at night the panels will fold up and increase the wind output. while using a ups system battery backup entirely fed by the solar windmill it shall be cost effective considering all the light poles we have it could be a large contributer to many problems at one time and am intristed in using tour company for much of the R&D

Living in Tennessee with power supplied by TVA has had a $0.15 per kilowatthour feed in rate which is initially too low to attract investment.  The feed-in rate should be tied to the residential rate for homeowners and to the commercial rate for businesses.  The chosen rate should be sufficient to attract investors with some degree of security on the rate changes, but the rate for solar should be different from the rates of other renewables where the maintenance and upkeep of the renewable is factored in.  For the residential TVA customer, I would suggest raising the rate to $0.40 per kilowatthour for the first series of years to a time when the solar investment by the residential homeowner has a payback period of 5 years.  After the payback period, the rate would drop to your suggested $0.15 rate.  That would empower the homeowner to invest in a solar installation.

Thank you Stoney,
  A lot of americans would like to do something postive for their country. If each of us average americans were allowed to put 4 photovoltaic panels on our roof it would help alot. And then add to it as we could afford it. The former adm attitude almost made me gag.
                          solarman

Maybe people are looking for the saviour from wholly wrong places?
(Somehow it is just Nanosolar who have gained this Solar Messiah
status, although there are dozens of other companies who claim
eventual $1/Watt prices, and just like Nanosolar, haven’t produced anything to sell yet.)

But, for the alternative, check this URL: openfarmtech.org/solar.html
(openfarmtech dot org slash solar dot html)
The whole concept is based on a peer-to-peer, open source economy.

All talk and no action. I have heard nothing but praise for these companies the past 5 years if not more. The only problem is that not one company has delivered a product! When are they going to start producing? Nanosolar states they can roll off thousands of sheets a day, so where is it?

Would it be possible to form a strategic partnership with some of the larger wind turbine manufacturers and potentially ‘paint’ or ‘cover’ their blades, or perhaps even the entire tower with your product?  I.e. Leveraging the surface area of a wind turbine to generate wind + solar power in one go?

Would it be possible to ‘coat’ or ‘paint’ the blades and/or towers of a wind turbine with your product?  I.e. Form a strategic partnership with one of the big wind energy providers and leverage the surface area from their wind towers to generate wind energy + solar energy in one device?

The problem with Nanosolar is not their refusal to produce a residential product, its their failure to produce any marketable product.  They claimed in Dec 07 they’d started commercial production, boasting low prices and huge capacity.  A year later there is no evidence they can produce any product at even a small commercial scale.  Marty R talks a big game but has yet to back up even one of his lofty claims.

Exactly; Nanosolar’s only product thus far is press releases, with the occasional position piece like the one to deflects the fact they have yet to produce any pv at commercial scale. 

I signed up with Nanosolar when they first released their video on the internet. It has been several years and I have not received anything other then an email news letter. If they have a viable product, why hasn’t it been available for consumers. Do they have what they claim, or is it just a lot of smoke and mirrors. I, like most of you, want to act on this technology now. I also have a vested interest in the Orion Project, (Dr. Steven Greer). His zero point energy or energy from the vacuum research has been on going for a while now. As these companies teeter away at a possible solutions to low cost energy for the masses, the green house gasses waits for no one. I desperately want to have the thumb of the electric companies pulled off all of us and revel in a low cost renewable source of energy. How much longer must we wait?

It’s amazing to me that a company who has yet to sell any product of any great substance claims to be an expert on this subject.  Let’s wait until Nanosolar is selling >100MW per year before we accept another “breakthrough” story from them.

We agree with the need of a Feed in tariff in the USA.

Our state tax credits in NC basically do not work.  The pool of interested solar buyers is not matched to the eligible companies which can monetize the tax credits.  Everyone reads of the PPA opportunities from CA and then when they realize NC is not deregulated the idea dies on the vine.

To truly bring the price down we believe a FIT is needed and that a 5 to 10 year timeline would allow solar to achieve great strides in lowering costs and building a real industry of trained installers, engineers and infastructure for distribution.

Thanks,

Bob Kingery
http://www.southern-energy.com

I think you have a great idea, but it doesn’t do much for the individual homeowner yet.  I’d like to propose an additional idea which is to spur the solar industry by offering interest deferred or interest free loans to construct solar units on residential homes and offices.  That way, we’d be able to individually benefit almost immediately and only have to pay back the money when they sell or refinance.  And whatever energy that wasn’t used by the homeowner could be sold back to the utility company.

In the meanwhile, I want to know when you are going to have a product finished that can be bought and used by residential homeowners.  How will it be distributed and when?  Thanks

I think you have a great idea, but it doesn’t do much for the individual homeowner yet.  I’d like to propose an additional idea which is to spur the solar industry by offering interest deferred or interest free loans to construct solar units on residential homes and offices.  That way, we’d be able to individually benefit almost immediately and only have to pay back the money when they sell or refinance.  And whatever energy that wasn’t used by the homeowner could be sold back to the utility company.

In the meanwhile, I want to know when you are going to have a product finished that can be bought and used by residential homeowners.  How will it be distributed and when?  Thanks

Maybe in another few years Nanosolar (NS) will offer their product to the average home owner. I have been waiting 20+ years for $1/watt solar PVs, but will probably wait onther 5 years. Standard silicon cells will never make that price point. NS is really much more interested in selling to the big electric companies, so maybe another compay will have to address the residental market. Problem is, it take a long time to develop a product. I don’t think the big electric companies will ever go away, and using their grid to provide juice at night is a great compliment to solar power produced in the day (on top of my roof that is) Plus, they will buy back the extra (in most places) Maybe the Fed will provide super low interest loans to purchase the solar eqp when it finally becomes available. Some company tried making solar shingles a few years back, but at $20/watt, they were not a hot seller. Plus, they were hard to install and maintain. For some reason, NS is selling almost all of their product in Germany. Go figure! Well, enough rambling for now, hope everone has a bright and sunny future with solar power

Mark Jenkins

Just bring your product to the residential user and see what will happen!  You won’t have to even think about government subsidies.  Look at the hoola-hoop.  Your presses won’t be able to turn fast enough to keep up with the demand.

OK, I admit I have not read every post here, it’s pretty long.  But some of you are quite wrong.  It is my understanding that Nanosolar is producing panels, they just are not available in North America.  An excellent documentary by David Suzuki has given this information out several months ago.  Complete with a visit to the factory showing the actual printing process.  Not only that, but I understand the company has a plant up and running in Germany, and to top that off have already paid dividends.  You can’t do that without product.
And it is true that the traditional silicon panel will never reach the magic $1 per watt level, which would put it squarely in competition with coal fired electricity generation (ugh!).
Yes, we are all waiting for residential type panels to become available.  And they will be soon.  In the mean time, it is their intent to make large scale volumes of panels available to utilities in an effort to serve a greater number of customers overall.  Nothing wrong with that logic, except for the fact that this system will still use the grid for distribution.  That old grid will still go down from time to time, leaving the ongoing problem of power outages unresolved.
I firmly believe we ALL need these panels, and we need them yesterday.  Even today would be OK.  There are other companies besides Nanosolar who are producing similar (not the same) panels for a much reduced price compared to silicon.  They, too, are using the bulk-to-the-utility type approach.  I can see where they are coming from, but it is the individual homeowner who needs these things immediately.
I have been walking the walk for nearly 12 years now.  And we had no option but to use silicon panels.  Just as soon as the new type are available, I want a couple of kilowatts.  I actually sent a note to Nano when I first found out about these panels to try and buy some. No dice of course.
The cost of a press to make these things is reputed to be $1.65 million.  Peanuts compared to the production capacity.  They can crank out that much in less than a month I am told.
Yes, us consumers are waiting in a very long line.  And as Terrance says, your presses won’t stand a chance of keeping up.  But give it a try anyway!

With all that has been said before me I will let rest. First we need to set a firm kw buy back from all the utility companies with that done the next step would not restrict the amount produced to what is being used. Nanosolar has the right idea as we need to get the install cost down to a point that the ROI works without rebates. We have been able to go a long ways in the last 10 years but were still have major roadblocks with the utility companies in getting them to buy from the solar fields or roof tops.