In a very recent announcement the MicroTech company of Fremont California has released a new line of solar thin film panels.
They have upgraded their wet process station and are now designing and building high output thin film solar panels.
We have not heard a lot about this process for some time with many of the major players preferring to pursue other technologies.
What we like about this is that, according to the company, there is a substantial cost reduction.
The reason these panels are cheaper is because with an integrated process of manufacturing you end up with an entire array of cells on one substrate (on one surface like a sandwich).
This puts all of the working technology in a protected envelope with will mean that they will be more protected from the elements.
The MicroTech TF 1200 production process tooling can operate up to 2 yards wide making for some very large panels in their planning.
The new line of arrays are actually in the 200 watt range with larger panels planned.
What we have been asking for is a sheet the size of a sheet of plywood, with is 4 feet by 8 feet. Make it with fitted edges so that it can be used just like roof sheeting.
Install it, seal it and there is your roof. This is just one more step to that ideal that we have been hoping for.
Many people out there who are building a new home or just renovating will want to have a look at this new process.
Thin film is a real time saver and money saver compared to more traditional solar panels.
These will have very low water retention and should have a very long life on your roof.
They offer strict control and recycling of water through a patent pending process.
Very effective particle filtering makes for no dirt or dust ever contaminating your system.
With the modular design you can get set up really inexpensively.
Something that is in the works is also special orders, which means you will soon be able to order direct from the factory, in whatever size and layout specs you want.
Think about ordering so many sheets of plywood to put on your roof, and you will get an idea of what we mean.
The new Microtech thin film solar panels are really a big step in the right direction, not quite what we have been looking for with the size, but very very close.