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Bright (Solar) Ideas
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
by Bill Remes
In 2008, the founders of tenKsolar,
Inc. founded their company with an
idea—an idea to design and build a
better solar panel. Identifying the
problems with solar panels as they
currently existed, tenKsolar knew it
had better ideas for a design that would
produce more energy, more safety and
with less cost. As the old saying goes,
they could “build a better mousetrap.”
Located in Burnsville, Minn.,
tenKsolar now has launched their new
line of RAIS modules, which stands for
redundant array of integrated solar.
The current design of most solar
panels involves each one of the cells
being wired or linked together in a
series. So, when one or several of the
cells is blocked and not working, large
portions, if not all, of the solar panel
fail to work—not generating power.
[Remember the old strings of Christmas
tree lights? When one of the lights went
out—all of the lights went out. Solar
panels, when linked in series, almost are
that bad.]
tenKsolar’s RAIS modules utilize a
cell matrix architecture design in their
coupling and output. One portion of
a solar panel may be blocked, or fail,
and a majority of the power still will
be generated by that panel. And each
module can stand alone—generating
power when other modules for whatever
reason may not be operating. The
modules are designed so that energy
literally finds an alternative path toward
the output coupler.
The National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) has established
an industry standard for the efficiency
rating of solar panels, which are
measured in photovoltaic (PV) watts.
NREL rates other currently available
solar panels as having generally a 77 to
82 percent efficiency rating, with only a
72 to 74 percent efficiency rating after
10 years of operation.
Due to the
efficiency of their
design, the tenKsolar
panels are showing
test results with an
initial efficiency of
91 to 92 percent,
with an efficiency
of approximately 87
percent even after 10
years of operation.
To boost the
efficiency even
further, the solar
panel design also
takes advantage of
reflected light. Most
solar panels only
use direct sunlight.
Whereas, mounting of highly reflective
panels, adjacent to a tenKsolar panel,
adds a significant amount to the total
energy output.
Due to the fact that light can be
reflected onto the panels, the optimal
mounting angle of each solar panel—
which generally is equal to the latitude
at which the panels are installed (45
degrees latitude for Minnesota)—is not
quite as important for tenKsolar panels.
Two other important features that
tenKsolar has designed into their
product offering include:
▶▶Product Safety. Each panel
operates at 48 volts—a voltage that
is more safe for anyone who may
come in contact with the panel.
Conventional panels operate on as
much as 600 volts—a lethal dose of
electricity if you come in contact
inadvertently.
▶▶Lightweight. tenKsolar panels
are all made with an aluminum
backplane, ensuring a good silicone
seal, which also keeps humidity
This tenKsolar solar panel module, even with partial snow
coverage, will still produce 82 percent of full area power; whereas a
conventional solar panel might only produce less than 10 percent.
out. The installations are virtually
all aluminum structures, which is
far less costly and far less weight
than steel. This weight reduction
means that many solar modules,
particularly large solar modules, will
not overburden the weight bearing
capacity of the structure in which
they are mounted. In most instances,
the modules can be attached with no
roof penetration (less opportunity
for a roof to leak). tenKsolar claims
to have the lowest pounds per square
foot (with the highest kW rating)
available today.
There are many bright ideas
designed into these new state-of-the-art
solar panels, conceived and produced
right here in Minnesota. PM
BILL REMES is the director
of sales & marketing for
AmeriStar Manufacturing
Inc. in Mankato, Minn. He
can be reached at
billr@ameristarmfg.com.
sponsored by | HEGMAN MACHINE TOOL INC.
16 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING May | June 201