Bloggage From Solar Power International, Part 1

With more than 18,000 attendees and about 900 exhibitors in Anaheim, Calif. (right near Disneyland) – Solar Power International is the largest solar trade show in the U.S. I'll be posting as frequently as I can from the event.

Last night was the opening reception with nearby fireworks and thousands of people milling to the sounds of the cover band that follows me around from city to city.  They played "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Play That Funky Music White Boy."  It was not funky.

The solar industry has succeeded in moving through an entire business cycle – from boom to bust to its current recovery. Trade shows have their own phases and cycles and SPI is now in the swimsuit models and "spokes model" in hot pants phase.

I spoke with a few PV inverter companies and they have an interesting problem – long lead times.  There is a components shortage and certain large inverter companies are quoting a five month (!) lead time. 

I ran into Greg Kelly (Sr. VP of Bus Dev) and Mike Childers (Chief Commercial Officer) of Miasole. Interesting news from them: They have achieved UL approval on their CIGS solar panels and are touting a 10.5 percent efficiency.  They claim a 60-megawatt capacity with 60 megawatts to come and look for a capex of 50 cents per watt.

More soon.