Quick update about my last post: For those who missed it, I’m doing a survey of solar pros about whether or not solar is a commodity at this point in 2010. So far, I’ve gotten almost 60 responses, but I’d like to get 40 more for a full 100 sample. So if you haven’t taken the poll yet, please do here.
Aside from this poll, there’s another experiment going on that speaks to the commoditization of solar PV, and it’s probably just the beginning…
I’m speaking of the “Battle of the Solar Panel Brands.” Deep Patel, Founder & CEO of GoGreenSolar.com, has set up a rack of six solar panels of different brands in his backyard. Each panel is powered by a microinverter, making this a head-to-head competition in a single location.
Of course, manufacturers have long hired independent labs to do testing of their panels for STC and PTC. What’s new is here is that Deep is taking a random panel and doing a public head-to-head, real-time, performance demonstration.
Now, before we get comments about how Deep’s experiment isn’t scientific, sure, let’s state the obvious. It’s not scientific for many reasons.
It’s in the back yard of his house, in a single, specific location that may produce more or less watts than another location, more or less clouds, and more or less bird poop, more ore less temperature variation, among many other variables. Noted.
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