At Intersolar: The Elusive Solyndra Solar Panel

SAN FRANCISCO -- For the solar industry, this is sort of like spotting a unicorn.

It's a solar panel from Solyndra, the maker of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar panel. It is a somewhat radical design. The active CIGS material is coated on those black cylinders. The cylindrical shape allows the panel to capture direct sunlight and light that bounces off the reflective white surface right below the panel. The panel is also propped up with fairly inexpensive racking.

Solyndra came out of stealth last year and has shown off the panels on the roof of its own headquarters, but most people in the solar industry haven't seen them. Both solar researcher Sorin Grana and investor Alain Harrus were pretty excited to see this thing on the floor. (Harrus was actually the one who spotted it in the Satcon booth. Satcon is working with Solyndra, according to Renewable Energy World's Stephen Lacey.)

If you are at the show, it is on the first floor toward the back of the hall. It is drawing crowds all day.