Solyndra: New Cylindrical Solar Panels

Solyndra, a 3 year old company, is producing unconventional solar panels. Instead of the old flat panels, Solyndra came up with new cylindrical panels. These panels collect sunlight more efficiently across a broader range of angles and catch light reflected off the roof itself.


To build these solar panels, Solyndra uses thin film solar cells. Thin film solar cells aren't as efficient as silicon cells but they cost less to manufacture. Very small amount of CIGS, copper indium gallium diselenide, is deposited in ultra thin layers along the surface of glass or metal. VP of business development Kelly Truman said that their process uses just a bit more than a micron of copper indium gallium diselenide, or CIGS.

On the roofs of Solyndra's office buildings, the first modules have been installed.
The solar tubes look like reverse fluorescent light bulbs. These tubes are not bolted to the roof because they are less susceptible to wind damage than traditional flat solar panels.

Source: Smart Solutions