Sam Shueh
Realty One Group
Silicon Valley, CA
The annual American Solar Exhibition & Convention for the solar industry was held in San Francisco's Mascone Convention Center last week. I had the best day to attend. In Silicon Valley temperature registered in the low 90s while in San Francisco I enjoyed the 74 deg breeze.
Germany has stopped subsidize alternative energy program by the government. The Chinese solar panels has taken many jobs away from European manufacturing (see Huawei exhibit below). This year I did not see a single major German exhibitor showing their technology. That goes concurrently with disappearance of the Bavarian girls serving German beer at the convention. Middle easterner did not have a single major exhibitor.
foreign mfg exhibit
However, I noticed there are more solar products this year tailor toward application of the technology. For example, people show the entire parking lot of solar charge system and software. 10 KW batteries are hooked up in series to charge Google, Apple, Tesla, and police station entire parking lots are equipped with quick charge system sustain 20 hours of use. All made in America! I saw a Tesla S model being recharged by a solar system to make it 100% green energy. None of these vehicles are unique this year. So why Elon Musk was not at this show, unimportant to his new solar acquisition?
electric charge batteries for Apple, Tesla, Google parking lots
One also see drones are used to monitor the effectiveness of solar panels with IR sensor to monitor defective sensors. The problem is the short battery life for a 30 minute flying time. The exhibitor explained that they have quick release mechanism putting a recharged battery and wireless data transmission images range up to 5 km to map the panel component temperature profile from a drone in a windy day. Software stitches images to form a complete panel mapping while the drone is wobbling. This can be a lucrative solar maintenance company to service school and government offices. The cost of these drones are $8-15K.
Solar Panel defect detector drone Thermal image camera system
One exhibitor told me the current low oil price and ample oil fuel has slowed down the alternative energy activities in recent months. US government agencies and industries are not as motivated to spend with cheaper electricity. Many middle eastern countries like Saudi Arabia now can not afford the capital expenditures with a -15% drop in gpd. Every project is on hold. Many people do not know how long it will stay on hold. Can be months or years before the oil price goes back up. Time will tell.
Sources:
Inter Solar North America (Solar exhibit)
Semi West show (Semi West Exhibit & Convention)
Shueh, Sam How is my Silicon Valley home worth? (Silicon Valley Home Values)
Silicon Valley Real Estate July 2016 (San Jose area real estate update)
Shueh, Sam (Real EstateBlogs)
Sam Shueh Realtor
I've called San Francisco South Bay home for over 30 years. We love this area and all it has to offer, and I enjoy sharing what I know about homes. I documented in several books about Silicon Valley history. I have much expertise in real estate...please give me a call. SamshuehRealtor@gmail.com
(Four-O-Eight) 425-1601
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