Our Commercial Customers

Are the solar roadways covered in snake oil?

They did pass their traction tests, but the excitement for solar roadways is a little premature.  Is the product innovative? #Totally. Here’s a quick rundown of what the Solar Roadways phenomenon is about.  Several years back, the Federal Highway Administration funded a project for roadways that could pay for themselves.  Solar Roadways’ prototype provides modular roads with solar panels integrated within them to generate electricity.  They will also be fitted with heaters and LED’s to clear roads of ice and warn drivers of conditions ahead. There are many other features that make it great, and we’ll save reality for last.

Why did this pipe dream go viral?

Good public relations and a revolutionary new type of road.  Solar panels last for 25 years and often see a payback within ten years or less.  That concept alone of a road that can last 25 years and create a return on investment is already better than stinky asphalt.  I’ve been told that in other parts of the country; their roads get covered in frozen water and become difficult to drive on.  This prototype contains heaters that will melt all of that frozen water that will eliminate ice related accidents and snow plows. Pretty awesome if you’ve been stuck behind one or have seen the salts eat away at your car.

Next awesomeness, the LED warning system.  Personally, this is my favorite feature of the solar roadways and is totally viable for particular situations.  From this picture, you can see that the roadways will replace the painted stripes, crosswalks, etc.  In the middle of the photo, you can see someone crossing the street and the crosswalk turns red.  You can also see the speed limit displayed and the bike path illuminated.  We could instantly change the speed limit, warn drivers of pedestrians or wildlife, or any other emergency situation.

Pave all the roads with solar!

They want to put these roadways everywhere.  Installers have a general rule of thumb, don’t install solar where the sun don’t shine.  Here’s a quick list of things that cause shade, everything that is not transparent like a tree, a building, or a car. The designers have danced around the question of which solar technology they will use.  Photovoltaic crystalline panels actually have serious performance issues even in partial shade because of weird physics voodoo that exponentially messes up production. Thin film solar does not share this issue and only loses ten percent of production when ten percent is shaded.  Thin film is flexible and theoretically cheaper, but it’s less efficient.  I would feel more confident with them using thin film while we put efficient PV on the roofs. They are currently using microinverters and from pictures it appears as they are using crystalline cells.  This adds cost and more components that can break.  They have been working the numbers though, and microinverters might be the most cost-effective solution to increase production.

Shade is the enemy

Roads get shade from just about everything because they are the lowest point.  A lot of things are built next to roads because that’s um…. #convenient. Buildings cast huge shadows.  I think Solar Roadways have potential in downtown intersections to safely alert drivers of pedestrians, bicyclists, and snow.

There are a lot of other cool possibilities with these from cabling conduits, wastewater treatment, piezoelectric generators, etc.  My sort of problem is that it shouldn’t be seen as a solution to climate change or meeting renewable energy requirements.  It is a solution to a safer society. There is no possible way that these road modules will be more efficient than a roof or ground mounted solar system.  The roadways have thick textured glass, that can withstand 250,000 POUNDS, that will get dirty and obstruct light from hitting the solar cell.

After reading a few other critical roadways articles, it’s apparent they aren’t there yet. The sound alone from the textured surface makes a silent, clean technology annoying.  We need to take a step back and remember that this is still in its prototyping phase.  Lots of stuff can change and lots of stuff can prevent it from coming to fruition.  Sit back and join Ameco in installing effective, affordable solar solutions.

Founders reply to the “haters”

Trumpets are blaring and drums are rolling because AMECO Solar has a new website!

Our new, fresh design was planned with a straight-forward layout that is much easier to navigate. Just one look at our new homepage and you can easily tell that AMECO Solar is a full-service solar installation company. We have options for anyone interested in solar panels from residential solar electric and solar pool installations to medium-sized commercial systems and large-scale solar installations.

You may click through our pages to learn more about solar energy by checking out step-by-step explanations of how it works or reading our pages on residential solar installation and commercial solar installation.

Of course, you may already know that our company blog is a great resource about solar installation.  Plus, we would also like to highlight our new Solar Installation Photo Gallery. It features photos of our recent solar installs, and new photos are being added all the time.

Give the new AMECO Solar website a spin…we hope you’ll like it!

If you ever peruse the headlines of science publications, one phrase you will come across for any research involving solar energy is “thin-film solar cells.” These photovoltaic modules are similar to those that AMECO installs on homeowners’ rooftops.

While they’re considerably thinner and could potentially be sold at a lower cost, the technology is still in the early stages and not available for residential installation just yet.

Thin-Film Solar and Lack of Efficiency

The major issue holding back thin-film solar? Efficiency. A typical solar electric panel can convert about 20 percent of the sunlight that hits them into electricity, while thin-film solar cells currently in development only have efficiency rates in the single digits.

As a result, one of the main focuses of renewable energy researchers is to develop thin-film solar modules that can match or improve on the efficiency of conventional panels.

Gemstones and Their Effect on Solar

Many studies have been published on the subject showing the possibility of higher conversion rates, but one of the most interesting is a report published in the academic journal Advanced Optical Materials.

Scientists at Purdue University in Indiana, have used light diffraction properties in gemstones, specifically opal, to come up with a molecular structure that does a more efficient job of capturing sunlight. They referred to this structure as “inverse opal.”

In simpler terms, the gemstones cause the sunlight to spread out within the thin-film solar panel instead of bouncing directly out. By keeping the sunlight within the solar cell, the solar cell therefore creates more usable energy. This technology could result in solar panels that are 100 times less expensive than conventional solar panels.

Innovations, Soft Costs and the Price of Solar

Innovations such as this are important for the solar industry, as panel prices have already dropped significantly in the last decade. This has led many industry observers to speculate that silicon PV modules could soon “hit bottom,” at which point further reductions simply wouldn’t be possible.

That would mean that price decreases would have to come from other areas, such as eliminating inefficiencies in the supply chain or even lowering administrative costs. These aspects of solar pricing are referred to as “soft costs,” and they’ve remained relatively flat while panel prices have come down. To reduce prices further, it will be necessary to develop thin-film modules for commercial use.

Homeowners may have to wait a few years for thin-film solar to become commercially available for residential solar energy systems, but that doesn’t mean residents can’t take advantage of solar power today. AMECO can provide your family with a solar electric system that will lower your monthly energy expenses and help you reduce your carbon footprint. For more information, contact us today by calling (888) 595-9570 or emailing gosolar@th2.e81.myftpupload.com!

Happy Anniversary to AMECO Solar! This year our solar installation company is celebrating our 40th anniversary.

That’s right, forty years! We’ve officially made it over the hill and are taking a look back on the history of our company. From our humble beginnings in 1974 to our many solar successes today in 2014, it has been a bright and sunny journey. Read on below for details on some of our highlighted accomplishments.

1974: Our company is founded under its original name Link (& Sun) Solar. Shortly thereafter, the name is changed to AMECO Solar, Inc.

1978: Congress passes the Energy Tax Act giving homeowners a tax credit for installing solar thermal panels. The law is seen as a way to promote energy conservation and shift away from using oil and gas.

1980: AMECO Solar joins CALSEIA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading solar technology in the state. Later on, Patrick Redgate (our CEO) serves as an elected member.

1982: Thousands of Californians go solar taking advantage of the federal tax credit and the state’s generous rebates. AMECO Solar adds two offices to our original location in Long Beach.

1985: California’s Contractors State License Board (CSLB) creates a license specifically for solar contractors. AMECO Solar is one of the first solar companies to receive it and is given License #483280.

1996: Thanks to Governor Pete Wilson and the State Legislature, California offers solar rebates and incentives through the Emerging Renewables Program for solar electric systems.

2004: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger promotes the Million Solar Roofs Program, challenging Californians to install 3,000 megawatts by 2017 to cut down on the output of greenhouse gasses.

2007: Authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Solar Initiative launches with new solar rebates for homeowners and businesses who are customers of SCE, PG&E and SDG&E.

2008: Now that the cost of solar is low and significant rebates are available, AMECO helps even more Californians go solar. We outgrow our offices yet again and move to our current location in Paramount.

2010: Because customers rate us so highly and write such great reviews on Angie’s List, AMECO Solar is awarded our first Angie’s List Super Service Award. We also receive this award in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

2014: AMECO Solar celebrates 40 years of installing solar panels for homeowners and businesses in Southern California. As we look back on our solar success, we are also looking forward to an even brighter future.

The following sources were referenced for this solar infographic: California Energy Commission, California Solar Initiative, Environment California, Wikipedia, Angie’s List, Contractors State Licensing Board, and The Capital Environmental News.