Re: Solar panels – New technology

[Anonymous]

You’re discussing “thin-film” modules, made using one of three technologies – CIS, CIGS and CdTe. CdTe, or cadmium tellurium, is the most common. The leading manufacturer of CdTe is First Solar of Phoenix, AZ, with a 1.2 gW production line, doubling in 2011. They are very popular with ‘best practices’ grid-scale installations, since they cost 0.76 per Watt to produce. Nanosolar is an adventure of Sergie Brin and Larry Page of Google, and is not yet in production. Abound Solar of Ft. Collins CO is another growing thin film player, as it Sharp solar. See this month’s Solar Pro magazine for a good article on thin film technology.