[RE-wrenches] Fwd: Solar Panels for 98 Cents Per Watt

Thu Dec 10 08:44:50 PST 2009

Hello Howie,

I met John Kimball in 1982 when he worked at Kyocera's solar module assembling plant in Phoenix. John's email to your friend is very straightforward. John has always been honest with me and is committed to making PV affordable to everyone. That said, you get what you pay for.

I met with Kaneka engineers in March 2003 to discuss their a-Si module. They had the a-Si production process down pat then and have made quality improvement since then. Your friend is probably familiar with the criticism about First Solar modules when they were first introduced in Germany. With a gigawatt in the field, First Solar has proven itself. Now low-priced CdTe is getting competition from a-Si.

If power density is not an issue, then the primary factors in selecting a PV module are:
1. is the manufacturer a quality company with significant PV experience
2. do the modules have IEC certification and/or UL listing
3. do the modules meet the project requirements
4. does the distributor provide after-sales customer support.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Joel Davidson

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Howie Michaelson 
  To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org 
  Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 6:02 AM
  Subject: [RE-wrenches] Fwd: Solar Panels for 98 Cents Per Watt

  Hi all,

  The message below was received by a friend of mine who has done all his
  own installation work, including being an early adopter of the FIT program
  while living in Germany many years ago.  He is wondering if this is a good
  deal for his off-grid system.

  What thoughts are there about the points made in this pitch?  This is the
  type of marketing that more and more of my clients are seeing.

  Has anyone had any traffic with Sun Electronics that they care to relate?

  And, I thought at least the Evergreen blemishes were about minorly
  misaligned cells, not spots.

  Thanks,
  Howie
  -- 
  Howie Michaelson
  NABCEP Certified Solar PV InstallerT

  Sun Catcher, LLC
  Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
  VT Solar & Wind Incentive Program Partner
  http://www.SunCatcherVT.com
  (cell) 802-272-0004
  (home) 802-439-6096

  Begin forwarded message:

  > From: Sun Electronics <johnkimball at sunelec.com>
  > Date: December 7, 2009 5:29:34 PM AST
  >
  > Before I tell you about these new panels,  I would like to say something
  about our B grade and SUN  modules. No one else sells the brand SUN. We
  have them made for us in the U.S., Germany and China using different
  cells, depending on the size they might be Evergreen's, Sun Power's,
  etc.B modules have UL and SUN modules do not. They both have a 25 year
  warranty. SUN modules can be used for off grid independent homes, or any
  low voltage application of 12, 24, or 48 volts,(boats, RV's, telecom,
  etc.). Both our A and B panels have UL and can be used for any grid
  connected application or any other  type of systems.
  >
  > B and SUN Panels: If you have ever actually seen one of our cosmetically
  imperfect  crystalline modules like the Evergreen ES-A-205-fa3B for
  $2.24/W or our SUN ES-A-205-fa3 for $1.74/W sitting next to an Evergreen
  A panel, you will know that you can't tell the difference. You will
  probably need someone to show you some tiny spots, if there are any. The
  power output is identical. Every panel comes with a flash test sheet
  from the manufacturer's certified solar simulator showing all panels
  power output's equal or exceed  the factories output tolerances -0% to +
  5%.   Over the last 10 years  we  have sold hundreds of containers of
  them and have never had more than 10 panels come back over the last 10
  years, and even those are kept for testing and repair. All A, B and SUN
  modules have a 25 year warranty.
  >
  > The reason for the excellent quality of B and SUN panels is because
  solar panels are all basically made the exact same way. Like sliding
  glass doors that, last like Stanley hammers, they are very very simple
  and strong. They are built to last 30 to 40 years, some say longer. If
  you could compare all the different manufacturer's crystalline solar
  panels in the world by lining  them up and having a 100 yard dash, they
  would all end up finishing within a few inches of each other, but the
  sales guys would be there promoting that theirs was 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.
  However, the difference in efficiency of solar modules is only about 3%
  between the best and worst and its been that way since I started in the
  PV business, 25 years ago!
  >
  > If your system is off grid and low voltage (12, 24 or 48 volts) it's
  even safe for you to use modules without certification. Modules are
  tested to a minimum of 150  volts most 600 volts. We have sold them
  without UL, into the Caribbean, Latin America as well as North America
  and we have thousands of customers who will gladly tell you how happy
  they are to have purchased them and how well they have worked for years.
  >
  > Cost effective solar is happening now, if you know what to buy, when to
  buy it, how to use it, where to get it and who you can believe. I
  started with the Energy Center in Tucson, Arizona in 1973, 36 years ago,
  during the Arab Oil Embargo. I have worked for three U.S. Congressmen,
  Udall, Sharp and Brown (Chairman of the House Science and Technology
  Committee), Arizona Gov. Babbitt's Solar Energy Commission, Photowatt's
  PV Factory and Kyocera Solar as  U.S. and International Sales Engineers
  and as the Owner of Sun Electronics International, Inc. for 20 years.
  >
  > Sure we sell the best and more expensive panels, Kyocera, Evergreen,
  Solar World, etc. and we take our reputation seriously here at Sun
  Electronics. But we need to lower the cost of solar and not just by
  using other people's money. All solar systems are good but cost
  effective ones are better in our opinion. B and our SUN modules help
  lower the cost of solar by up to 50%.
  > No one has prices like Sun Electronics, it's not because we are
  unprofessional it's because we are realistic.  And because I have been
  shopping great deals for 20 years and I have contacts in the industry
  from 36 years of experience.  We are known for it and manufacturers call
  us with special offers from all over the world including the U.S.
  (Evergreen, BP, Solar World, Sanyo, Schott, AEE etc.)as well as from
  Germany, Japan, China and Spain.
  >
  > Don't let anyone scare you.  "Cosmetic blemishes" are just that
  "cosmetic". And, some panels  may have different or no certifications at
  all because many manufacturer's have customers who don't require it.
  Certification is also unbelievably expensive (approx. $50,000 per panel
  type) and takes forever to get. Most countries don't even have grid
  connect type high voltage systems and thus don't require any
  certification. Remember, however, on high voltage grid connect systems
  you should always use modules with the proper certification such as UL,
  TUV or CE. Our B "cosmetically blemished" modules always have
  certification.
  >
  > As of Monday Dec. 7th solar is available, at least until we run out, for
  $.98/Watt, it's thin film, it's made in Japan, it is less efficient, but
  at this price, especially with UL and a 25 yr. factory warranty, I ask
  you, is there any reason why not? We have 1,000 of them. These are the
  kind of deals I have spent years looking for and find. And, there will
  be more, the world economy and over production in the industry has
  assured that. Solar can stand on it's own two feet, but for now it means
  starting off with the lowest price solar panels, balance of system
  components, energy efficient appliances and energy conservation.
  >
  > Happy Holidays,
  >
  > John Kimball
  > Sun Electronics International., Inc.
  > www.sunelec.com
  >
  > Email Marketing by
  >
  > Sun Electronics | 511 NE 15th Street | Miami | FL | 33132
  >

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