Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, has signed a letter of intent to manufacture Akeena Solar's Andalay solar panels. Under the terms of the agreement, Suntech will manufacture and deliver 10 MW to 14 MW of Andalay solar panels to Akeena Solar during 2008.
Andalay is the brand name for Akeena Solar's patent-pending solar panel systems that, unlike other solar panels, feature built-in wiring, grounding and racking, Akeena says.
‘Our engineers re-thought the concept of a solar panel so that the panels can be manufactured from the start to simplify installation, improve reliability and look like a glass skylight on the roof,’ says Barry Cinnamon, Akeena Solar CEO. ‘[W]ith Andalay, we expect to reduce rooftop installation time by over 50 percent, requiring 70-percent fewer parts and 25-percent fewer rooftop attachment points.’
