Dow Chemical to produce thermoplastic solar roof shingles (and sell them by 2011)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/index.ssf/2009/02/dow_chemical_to_produce_thermo.html

Dow Chemical to produce thermoplastic solar roof shingles

by Paul Wyche | The Saginaw News
Sunday February 15, 2009, 8:52 AM

MIDLAND -- Solar shingles is not a new disease, but Dow Chemical Co. hopes they spread like gangrene.

During the past year, engineers, scientists and others at Dow Solar Solutions -- a $50 million investment -- have worked at a photovoltaic facility, a retrofitted former research and development building in the company's sprawling 1,900-acre complex here.

Their goal is to produce thermoplastic solar roof shingles for sale throughout North America. With President Barack Obama's insistence on renewable energy and conservation, the time is ripe for such an enterprise, said Robert J. Cleereman, senior director of solar development for Dow.

Using thin film photovoltaic technology, Dow intergrates solar cells with shingles. By 2011, officials expect to begin selling the product with its partners -- home builders Lennar Corp. of Miami, Pulte Homes Inc. of Bloomfield Hills and Jefferson City, Mo.-based Prost Builders Inc., and Global Solar Energy, a maker of flexible materials.

…

[Deja Q]

1. W00T!

K&R

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Here are 3 vendors that do today

http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/products/three-manufacturers-of-solar-shings/

Three Manufacturers of Solar Shingles

The past five years have seen the solar industry shine. With the green revolution in high gear, homeowners see the wisdom of using renewable power to generate electricity. Gas prices are also rising steadily, granting renewables well-warranted attention over fossil fuels purchased at the mercy of oil-rich countries. There’s also a new wave of aesthetics, enabling solar power systems to become architecturally as well as environmentally savvy.

Solar shingles, for instance, are a proven solar option that utilizes the same photovoltaic (PV) technology as solar panels. These building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) blend into traditional roofing materials for a more seamless look than that afforded by bulky, mounted panels. A single shingle only produces enough electricity to power an electric fan, but several feet of them together garner the energy to power an entire house.

Thing is, solar shingles are currently manufactured by just a handful of companies. Three of these are Uni-Solar, Atlantis Energy, and SunPower.

…

[mucifer]

11. Wow! They've come a long way since "agent orange".

[MrModerate]

3. Sounds like a good idea, but can we get the reporter . . .

Who wrote that first sentence to consider an alternative career in textile management?

Puh-leeze: "spread like gangrene"?

[MADem]

4. Neat. Wonder if they'll make ones that look like slate, one day! nt

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. They do today!

http://www.atlantisenergy.org/sunslates2.html

[MADem]

6. Those are nice looking. I'd need large, old school ones, though.

It's that "historic district" crap that holds me down.

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. So contact them and ask

http://www.atlantisenergy.org/productinfo.html

[MADem]

8. I'll keep the link, thanks! nt

[sam sarrha]

9. would be better in sheets like the metal roof i have..less parts to break down, >Link>>

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.alvarezsheetmetal.com/&usg=__xxEmZAyJYyr0VKKDT3wCymcFGoQ=&h=542&w=950&sz=102&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=SY_mK1vonZJo3M:&tbnh=84&tbnw=148&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsheet%2Bmetal%2Broofing%2Bphotos%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX

[OKIsItJustMe]

12. How about a peel and stick that glues onto metal roofing?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7686031155306582056

[sam sarrha]

13. actually i had thought of that.. the stuff now comes in rolls, they have vacu-formed add on tops

for hybred electric cars...

[OKIsItJustMe]

14. UniSolar has had this product for years

Check out the video in my previous post.

[Botany]

10. thanx

n/t