Solyndra's Cylindrical Shaped Solar Panels Capture Energy

Solyndra™ offers a unique cylindrical shaped solar panel that can, unlike traditional flat solar panels, capture both low-angle and reflected sunlight. This effectively creates a solar array that offers greater surface area to convert more of the sun's rays into energy. The net result is that flat roofed commercial buildings can sustain more solar arrays and offer companies greater energy output than traditional flat panel systems.

According to Solyndra, there are 30 billion square feet of rooftops that could take advantage of Solyndra's cylinder shaped solar arrays in the business sector within the United States alone. This, Solyndra has estimated, could offer 150 gigawatts of electricity were these commercial rooftops affixed with Solyndra's cylindrical solar arrays.

Unlike flat solar panels that require direct sunlight to efficiently turn sunlight into electricity, Solyndra's drum shaped units capture light from all directions. This means that Solyndra's solar arrays do not need to be tilted to the optimum angle the way flat panels must be setup. In turn, more surface area of a flat commercial roof can contain the Solyndra system over the traditional flat panel solar array producing better output.

Other advantages to Solyndra's solar panels include lower wind resistance as winds of up to 130 mph are allowed to pass harmless between the solar cylinders. This is a special advantage over traditional solar panels must be placed at an angle. The problem with this is that when winds blow from behind and subsequently beneath such flat panel arrays, an upward draft causes lift. This means traditional flat panel arrays need heavier brackets and often reinforcements to rooftops themselves to prevent the roofs from being blown off during heavy windstorms. Solyndra again, becomes a considerable choice especially for regions prone to high velocity winds.

Another asset to having an array of cylinder shaped solar panels, is the fact that air can pass between the panels helping to cool them. This means higher output is achieved with lower temperatures. Solyndra also claims this results in better reliability since extreme temperatures can often have destructive consequences.

Watch Solyndra™ Cylindrical Solar Panel Video