Consumer products lighting the way
Journal Article
·
· Independent Energy; (USA)
OSTI ID:6419703
Manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells are finding new markets and public acceptance for solar-powered consumer products. The market includes any number of items which run on batteries and which could just as well be solar-powered using PV cells. Chronar Corp. led the way with its WalkLite solar powered yard light. Since its introduction in 1987, about 750,000 units have been sold. Nevertheless, as Chronar's sales success grew, other companies entered the field, in some cases offering more durable and higher-performance products. Most significant is the recent surge of interest among mainstream consumer product manufacturers - companies like Brinkmann Corp. of Dallas, Texas. If the trend continues, some manufacturers may go back to what they do best: making PV cells and modules, leaving large consumer products companies to handle consumer product manufacturing and sales. But if consumer companies take over module manufacturing (as one company is doing) the industry could become a commodity market for PV cells. If that happens, PV manufacturers will be cut out of the major profits of the industry. The paper discusses the market competition, silicon commodities, the PV potential, and product reliability.
- OSTI ID:
- 6419703
- Journal Information:
- Independent Energy; (USA), Journal Name: Independent Energy; (USA) Vol. 20:5; ISSN XY987; ISSN 1043-7320
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140300* -- Solar Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
140600 -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
COMPETITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
MANUFACTURERS
MARKET
MARKETERS
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER SUPPLIES
RELIABILITY
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
140300* -- Solar Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
140600 -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
COMPETITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
MANUFACTURERS
MARKET
MARKETERS
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER SUPPLIES
RELIABILITY
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT