Residential Solar Panel Manufacturers:
Photovoltaic Arrays are a Green, Renewable Energy Source; Cut Energy Bills and Get Tax Credits
© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved; content may not be copied, rewritten, or republished without authors written permission
To combat increasing energy bills, many homeowners are installing residential solar panels. This
is a green, renewable energy source and each one square foot solar array produces 10 Watts.
Theres no shortage of players getting into the home-generated solar electricity game.
Well take a look at six of the big PV (Photovoltaic) players.
BP Solar Panels
The British Petroleum energy giant sells its BP Solar SX-170B for $759. It supplies a healthy 170 Watts
of electricity. They also produce and market BP Solar Energy Tile as a roofing system which is
currently available in California.
BP entered the solar market in the 1930s and their panels have called such extreme environments as
space and Antartica home. Some of their customers have reported energy savings as high as 73 percent.
Kyosera
Kyosera is best known for making copiers. But, they also help the homeowner to generate electricity
from the sun. For example, the Kyosera KC200GT produces 200 Watts and has a conversion ratio
(the percentage amount of the sun's energy converted to usable electricity) of 16%. They also market a DC to
AC converter. This is a must-have since home appliances run on AC current.
All their panels feature Multi-Contact output cables, a heavy-duty box-style anodized aluminum frame;
and an industry high 20-year power output warranty.
Suntech
Suntech was awarded the contract to power the Birds Nest Stadium for the Beijing 2008
Summer
Olympic Games.
This was a huge publicity boost for this upstart company; the resulting publicity
gave their sales numbers a healthy boost. Their STP180-24/Ab1 model
delivers 190 Watts at a price of $849.
Are they reliable? Heres their claim, Unlike traditional power sources whose economics depends on
the ever changing price of fuel, solar energy systems come with a 25 year guaranteed free fuel supply
direct from the Sun.
Evergreen Spruce
A clever name for a renewable energy technology company, is it not? Evergreen uses their own
proprietary String Ribbon technology. This process provides a cost-saving method of making silicone
wafers. The streamlined process increases their profit margin. Their 195 Watt model has a cost of about
$939.
Evergreen manufactures everything wafers, cells and panels all under one roof for ultimate
quality control
Sharp
Sharp is well-known for their televisions, but whats not so well known is that theyve
been harnessing the suns energy since the 1950s. Theyre the worlds largest producers
of solar cell technology. This includes production for watches and calculators. At $870, the Sharp
NE165U1 generates 155 Watts.
General Electric Company (GE)
GE has used their knowledge of appliances to enter the solar power industry. They got into the game
by buying out AstroPower in 2004. The GEPV 200 model will set you back for just over $1000.
But this model is very durable, withstanding wind up to 125
miles per hour. Anyone out there in hurricane country?
GE has taken the tack of making it easy for the homeowner. Their Brilliance Pre-packaged Solar Systems
are easy to install and designed to supply years of maintenance-free operation. Each system includes
all the components necessary for a complete installation and is designed to be compatible with a wide
variety of roof types and materials.
If youve got a larger property, over an acre, consider another alternative for producing green,
renewable energy:
Residential Wind Turbines.
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