Nanosolar's Breakthrough - Solar Now Cheaper than Coal!

[LMagic007]

Not sure when the German plant comes on line, but make of this what you will.


"[The] German panel-assembly factory was always scheduled to start operation one quarter behind our San Jose operation. We have a secondary, semi-automated 24×6 panel-assembly operation up and running in San Jose which is capable to address all of our initial panel-assembly needs until the German factory kicks in. The German operation is geared towards multi-100MW capacity — in fact a total capacity much larger than what our current cell operation is designed for — and in a fully-automated “lights-out” way for maximum cost efficiency. "

http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/12/nan...el-production/

[Deathridesahorse]

Originally Posted by LMagic007

Not sure when the German plant comes on line, but make of this what you will.


"[The] German panel-assembly factory was always scheduled to start operation one quarter behind our San Jose operation. We have a secondary, semi-automated 24×6 panel-assembly operation up and running in San Jose which is capable to address all of our initial panel-assembly needs until the German factory kicks in. The German operation is geared towards multi-100MW capacity — in fact a total capacity much larger than what our current cell operation is designed for — and in a fully-automated “lights-out” way for maximum cost efficiency. "

http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/12/nan...el-production/

???

Huh...Well the first is supposedly about 430MW a year in annual prodction so it sounds like the German one is going to be somewhat comparable: that's all I can figure!

[LMagic007]

I would not be surprised if the German factory is bigger based on the article. i.e. if it's gong to be more efficient lights out operaton, then it makes sense to me, to make it very big to maximise that efficiency.

[Deathridesahorse]

Originally Posted by LMagic007

I would not be surprised if the German factory is bigger based on the article. i.e. if it's gong to be more efficient lights out operaton, then it makes sense to me, to make it very big to maximise that efficiency.

Really?

I suppose I don't understand the "lights out" bit...!?!

[LMagic007]

I think lights-out manufacturing means 24/7 hours near fully automated operational capability. Perhaps further explained by Wiki.

[Deathridesahorse]

Originally Posted by LMagic007

I think lights-out manufacturing means 24/7 hours near fully automated operational capability. Perhaps further explained by Wiki.

d'oH...!!!

[LMagic007]

Originally Posted by Deathridesahorse

d'oH...!!!

Yea I think they will make lots of doh too ! Lots of green doh ! In more ways than one !

[LMagic007]

As an aside;

Solar Energy: PV Cell Production Jumps 50 Percent in 2007

http://seekingalpha.com/article/5858...ercent-in-2007

[LMagic007]

Yes solar PV is still somewhat expensive. I think if you go solar to get the most out of solar energy, you need to go solar hot water and then PV, as hot water is a significant household energy consumer. Also though, until carbon taxes are appropriately implemented, renewable energy will continue to struggle to break free of the shackles of kwh price disadvantage to the fossil fuel based power companies.

To me, it just makes sense to tax for carbon as everything then produced by carbon based fuels will inherit the true environmental cost which might then help to allow the more operationally energy efficient technologies, to show faster cost recovery that might help allow for broader consumer appear, larger production volumes of scale and thus also helping them become more competitive in the market, as well as helping CO2 emissions abatement. The government rebates schemes also factor into it of course. In Australia 1 kw system with rebates might cost you around AU $5,000 and pay for itself in around 5 years.

[karmakop]

French renewable energy group EDF Energies Nouvelles said Tuesday it will invest $50 million in solar panel maker Nanosolar Inc.

Nanosolar gets $50M from EDF Energies - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

Good that a French company are investing what with the nuclear they have.