New solar panel promises cheaper power

By Jim Downing
jdowning@sacbee.com

Published: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 8B
Last Modified: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 - 11:00 am

The roof of a North Sacramento plastics factory will host the biggest West Coast installation of a new type of solar panel.

The technology, built by Fremont's Solyndra Inc., uses racks of solar cells roughly the size and shape of long fluorescent light tubes. The shape allows the panels to harvest sunlight from any angle, including what's reflected from the white rooftops common on large commercial buildings.

The technology promises to cut the cost of solar power.