Comments on: First Energy Department loan guarantee goes to … a solar manufacturer http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:31:24 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Spunky http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-34298 Spunky Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:12:53 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-34298 While it's good to see some of the FLG's released, why such a big chunk for this single company? The $535M represents 73% of their project costs and they received VC funding of about $600M in October 2008. I thought the new administration liked to spread the wealth around. While it’s good to see some of the FLG’s released, why such a big chunk for this single company? The $535M represents 73% of their project costs and they received VC funding of about $600M in October 2008. I thought the new administration liked to spread the wealth around.

]]> By: Bob Wallace http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33929 Bob Wallace Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:05:34 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33929 I see this product as ideal for commercial buildings with flat roofs. Solar hours correspond nicely to air conditioning hours. And since the power can be used in the building where it is created there is no additional demand on the grid. (In fact, a load pulled off the grid.) I see this product as ideal for commercial buildings with flat roofs.

Solar hours correspond nicely to air conditioning hours. And since the power can be used in the building where it is created there is no additional demand on the grid. (In fact, a load pulled off the grid.)

]]> By: Mark Shapiro http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33925 Mark Shapiro Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:30:02 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33925 Thanks for pointing to the Sci Am article about the company and product. The Solyndra system has lower installation costs (good) but probably higher manufacturing costs (not so good). As an outside expert said in the article, it comes down to cost and reliability. Of course we would all hope to see a home run here; the DOE loan guarantee means Solyndra gets an at-bat in the big leagues and we all get to see the results. This may be a good product for big, flat roofs (its target market); for houses I think that building-integrated PV is the best way to eliminate installation costs. Then we need to eliminate the inverter costs for PV. How about a global standard for direct current, to connect DC sources (like PV, batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells) directly to DC devices, such as electronics and LED lighting. That would reduce the cost of PV by another 20%-40%. Thanks for pointing to the Sci Am article about the company and product.

The Solyndra system has lower installation costs (good) but probably higher manufacturing costs (not so good). As an outside expert said in the article, it comes down to cost and reliability. Of course we would all hope to see a home run here; the DOE loan guarantee means Solyndra gets an at-bat in the big leagues and we all get to see the results.

This may be a good product for big, flat roofs (its target market); for houses I think that building-integrated PV is the best way to eliminate installation costs.

Then we need to eliminate the inverter costs for PV. How about a global standard for direct current, to connect DC sources (like PV, batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells) directly to DC devices, such as electronics and LED lighting. That would reduce the cost of PV by another 20%-40%.

]]> By: Roger http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33923 Roger Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:04:01 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33923 It's been said that "When it gets dark the stars come out." Dare we begin to become a bit more hopeful for the future? Will Chu, Hansen, Holdren, McKibben, et al. finally be heard? It’s been said that “When it gets dark the stars come out.”

Dare we begin to become a bit more hopeful for the future?

Will Chu, Hansen, Holdren, McKibben, et al. finally be heard?

]]> By: Sasparilla http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33897 Sasparilla Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:59:23 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33897 Great to see this and we have to thank the Bush administration for saving this money (not putting it in dead end projects) for Chu to allocate - George, unintentionally, comes through for us. ;-) Great to see this and we have to thank the Bush administration for saving this money (not putting it in dead end projects) for Chu to allocate – George, unintentionally, comes through for us. ;-)

]]> By: Harrier http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33892 Harrier Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:14:00 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33892 So does this mean the Energy Department's been sitting on a ton of R&D loans that date back to even before the stimulus money was allocated? It would be quite nice to see all of that released, and especially under the guidance of as good a director as Chu. So does this mean the Energy Department’s been sitting on a ton of R&D loans that date back to even before the stimulus money was allocated?

It would be quite nice to see all of that released, and especially under the guidance of as good a director as Chu.

]]> By: Gail D http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33888 Gail D Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:32:50 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33888 GIDDYUP !!! GIDDYUP !!!

]]> By: Ron Broberg http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33885 Ron Broberg Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:49:39 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33885 It's good to see Chu moving forward. Really good. On the other hand, there's Feinstein trying to hold us back. http://www.newsweek.com/id/190329 It’s good to see Chu moving forward.
Really good.

On the other hand, there’s Feinstein trying to hold us back.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/190329

]]> By: ZS http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33884 ZS Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:41:10 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33884 Kudos for highlighting this, and I hope that CP will continue to document how the money devoted to energy in the stimulus package is actually carried out. Kudos for highlighting this, and I hope that CP will continue to document how the money devoted to energy in the stimulus package is actually carried out.

]]> By: ecostew http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33882 ecostew Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:11:03 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2009/03/22/steven-chu-doe-loan-program-solyndra-solar-panels/#comment-33882 A reason to move quickly: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090320164659.htm A reason to move quickly:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/ 2009/ 03/ 090320164659.htm

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