I’m excited about the new flexible, adhesive PV solar panels, designed to stick to metal roofs, that are finally available.

Long-time readers know that we’ve got a small, off-grid solar system at our field school in Masardis, Maine. It consists of one 80-watt panel, a charge controller and several 6-volt golf cart batteries. The panel cost $450 when new a few years ago, and it performs well, providing the batteries with enough charge to run the few electrical items we have.

I’ve been reading about the next generation of panel, though, and am excited to try one. The one I’m looking at is 136-watt panel that is flexible and will stick right to the metal roof of the cabin, also priced at $450 (the price on our old panel seems to have come down about $35). That’s a much better price per watt, but for now I’m still doing some preliminary research. It’s got a 25-year performance warranty, which is goes a long way toward convincing me to invest in one.

I’m also still very interested in the portable solar panels offered by Brunton. I’m thinking about investing in the 26-watt folding panel this year, but will probably wait for the second generation of their 52-watt folding panel, which will hopefully be available soon.

If you’ve never experimented with solar power, now is the time. It will play a much larger role in the generation of electricity as the years go by.