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Akeena's Andalay Solar Panels Available at Lowe's

December 14, 2009 | 5 Comments

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California, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] For the first time, U.S. homeowners can buy solar panels off the shelves from a major retailer. Akeena Solar Inc. last week announced that its Andalay AC panels are available at 21 Lowe's Home Improvement stores in the state of California. The panels, which were recently honored with a 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Product award, are featured as part of Lowe's Energy Center at the stores.

The Andalay AC system is fully integrated with built-in racking, grounding, wiring and micro-inverters. Andalay panels also have built-in inverters that produce household AC power, so there is no high-voltage DC wiring.

Andalay AC systems use Suntech panels and Enphase micro-inverters. Andalay modules are UL listed and CSA certified. Akeena said that Andalay AC panels produce 5 to 25 percent more energy output compared with ordinary DC solar panels.

"The PC revolution in the computer industry occurred when new technology made PCs easy to use and affordable. We transitioned away from big mainframe computers to PCs in every home. Likewise, with panels becoming plug-and-play appliances, the solar revolution has started. Having panels on the shelf at Lowe’s is a giant step in making solar mainstream and moving our nation toward getting solar on every sunny rooftop," said Barry Cinnamon, Akeena's CEO. "Buying panels off the shelf at Lowe's offers solar options to homeowners that they didn't have," continued Cinnamon. "Homeowners now can get a system as small as one panel. With Andalay's safe household AC power design, they are the only real choice for do-it-yourselfers."

Lowe's will stock the accessories required for installation, eliminating the need for do-it-yourselfers and contractors to pre-order components and enabling them to pick up what they need on the way to the installation.

Lowe's is the first major retailer to offer many of these products in one place, products that range from power monitors and small solar chargers to a solar panel system. The Energy Center will be in additional U.S. and Canadian stores in 2010.

To hear more from Cinnamon about the plug-and-play solar concept and what can be done to increase adoption of these types of systems, watch the video below.

Solar Energy

5 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 5

Anonymous

December 14, 2009

I think Barry needs to check his math on his production data. Anyone can sell the same Suntech modules that Andalay uses with Enphase. And of course they have the same energy output. The difference will be that the non-Andalay system will be cheaper.

Having DIY solar installations is a bad idea for so many reasons. A DIY solar project will be both technically challenging and time consuming. The average Do-It-Yourself-er is just not prepared for the permitting and inspection process which is geared toward contractors. If anyone thinks they will just install it without a permit, the utility will be happy to shut off your power when they discover it. Not to mention no state rebate or tax credit.

From the video, Barry seems to be betting Akeena's future on the elimination of all paperwork making DIY solar easier. Your house is not a computer, you can't just plug and play components. If you screw up working on your computer at worst you fry replaceable components. Screwing up a Solar install can have dangerous/deadly repercussions. A cities permitting and inspection process is designed to catch mistakes ensuring a safe installation. Barry, eliminating this part of the process is not an option.

It will be interesting to see how Akeena handles supporting these DIY customers. Will they be another albatross around their neck?
Remember a warranty is only good if the company is still in business. How many more quarters can Akeena loose money and still keep their doors open?

Comment
2 of 5

MarkEHanson

December 16, 2009

A DIY system is a great idea, as part of REEVA (renewable energy and electric vehicle association) we help others in the volunteer group to eliminate the labor costs thus cutting the costs in half since cost is the main obstical for most folk's. I put in 40ea Enphase inverters with ZomeWorks Trackers and panels 6.5kw system in 2 weeks at my house, simple installation, filled out the county 1 page electrical permit as a homeowner and SCC grid connect form prior to install, the Enphase inverters meet UL1741 requirements. I passed electrical & utility approval, no problem and saved $20k on my system. More people should be doing this.
Have a renewable energy day,
Mark in Roanoke, VA
www.solectrol.com solar home
www.evalbum.com/1273 electric Porsche & solar boat

Comment
3 of 5

jimbier

December 16, 2009

Simplify paperwork by making tax credits and incentives work at the point of purchase for DIY. It should be able to plug-in with a sensor that will disconnect from the grid when there is no power on the grid and reconnect when the grid is back up to allow power production when the grid is down. May be able to approach through existing federal and state paperwork reduction laws and regulations.

Comment
4 of 5

Spicy_Solar_Guy

December 16, 2009

Jimbler – the Andalay AC panels that use Enphase inverters do exactly that: they sense grid power and only start to generate when the grid is detected and stable.

Anonymous – my "math" is from Enphase, and they quote 5-25% better performance. From your comments it appears as if you are not familiar with the time savings, safety improvements and ease of installation for Andalay AC systems. We are certainly seeing performance improvements — especially for systems that have even the slightest amount of shading. And you're right, Andalay systems are slightly more expensive. But the direct (rooftop and AC side) and indirect (design, engineering, permitting, logistics) savings more than make up the difference. So if you value your time, spending a bit more for ease of installation is well worth it (do you still like to install panels with terminal blocks instead of quick connects?).

Ordinary DC systems are indeed technically challenging, dangerous and time consuming — that's why they are expensive, and that's why trained electricians and HVAC professionals aren't in the business. Once we've eliminated high voltage DC from systems, the most dangerous part of the installation is climbing up a ladder.

I'm not a Paperwork Contractor — I'm a Solar Contractor. I got into the solar business (in the '70s) because I wanted to see solar on every sunny rooftop. Not to crunch irrelevant numbers (things like string sizing and temperature coefficients are not applicable to AC), fill out endless reams of paperwork, and babysit multiple inspections. Let's show some leadership as an industry to promote solar, reduce its costs and make it accessible to everyone.

Comment
5 of 5

cpaynesr

December 22, 2009

DIY kits are fine for consumers to purchase. However, the interconnection with the grid and the applications for grants and incentives would be a deterant for most homeowners. The system should be installed by a professional electrician who has working knowledge of the local codes. I can see the potential for novices to increase the odds for personal injury.

I am a trained electrician and hvac tech. And if you look closer at the industry you will discover electrical and hvac contractors are exactly who has built this market in America.

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