Dow Chemical Rolling Out Solar Shingles Next Year

Several users wrote to tell us that Dow Chemical plans on selling solar shingles as early as next year. The solar version can be integrated with normal asphalt shingling and will be introduced in 2010, with a wider roll-out scheduled for 2011. "The shingle will use thin-film cells of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), a photovoltaic material that typically is more efficient at turning sunlight into electricity than traditional polysilicon cells. Dow is using CIGS cells that operate at higher than 10 percent efficiency, below the efficiencies for the top polysilicon cells -- but would cost 10 to 15 percent less on a per-watt basis."

Repeat Ten Times Fast

[audubon]

Sally sells solar shingles by the seashore...

Well that's silly

[T Murphy]

Why would I want solar-powered shingles? My shingles never needed to be powered in the first place.

copper indium gallium diselenide...

[thestudio_bob]

Copper indium gallium diselenide, that's like so yesterday. We all know that human hair is the future.

Teenager Invents Cheap Solar Panel From Human Hair [slashdot.org]

Re:Direct Link to DOW

[Shark]

Nah, they just factored in inflation.

Re:I beg to differ.

[catmistake]

Everything is relative. Perhaps these solar shingles take a few extra steps beyond regular shingles, but have you seen what a pain in the ass the nuclear reactor shingles are to install? You need a friggin' nuclear engineering degree! Sure, the effeciency is through the roof, but at what cost? As unlikely as China Syndrome is, it's an insurance nightmare. And personally, I don't want my great great grandchildren toiling to replace a spent uranium ceiling. Solar it is!

Yuk!

[AliasMarlowe]

assfault roads

I do NOT want to drive around your neighborhood...