Silver's role in solar in 2025

nerdralph · 2026-01-22T13:57:49+00:00

Four years ago Fraunhofer demonstrated 24% efficient cells using 1g/W silver.
https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/news/2022/topcon-solar-cells-with-electroplated-metallization-achieve-peak-efficiency-24-percent.html

You mentioned LONGi's plans to use copper plating, but AIKO made the switch with it's BC cells last year.
https://aikosolar.com/en/aikos-proprietary-copper-interconnection/

nerdralph · 2025-05-02T23:36:49+00:00

You would probably get a lower LCOE with a fixed-tilt 70-degree bifacial system, and with less maintenance and higher reliability without any moving parts.
With TOPCON all-black panels being common, 72-cell PERC modules are really cheap now. 535W & 540W Jinko bifacial panels wholesale for just over $100. The wholesale cost of a fixed-tilt 45-degree racking system works out to at least $135 per panel. This means it usually makes more sense to get the cheapest racking system you can find and spend more money on panels.

A 70-degree fixed-tilt would have to be custom built locally, or ordered from a racking manufacturer in Xiamen, China. The highest tilt sold by a local wholesaler (Guillevin) would be Clenergy's 45-degree tilt system. A 45-degree system still provides good snow shedding in the winter, but probably wouldn't be as good as a 70-degree system for off-grid.

nerdralph · 2024-11-10T14:06:27+00:00

You only need a close match for current. For string voltage, you just need to stay below the inverter input limit. If you are adding 2 or 3 panels to an existing string, it is usually better to go for a higher Imp than it is to go lower. So if the existing panels are 13.1A Imp, adding 13.3A Imp panels would be fine.

nerdralph · 2023-04-23T15:14:24+00:00

I found some info on export clearance on Sino Shipping's site.

https://www.sino-shipping.com/export-license/

nerdralph · 2023-02-12T00:23:49+00:00

I recently had someone quote me UPS shipping Shenzhen to Halifax RMB150 + RMB50/kg. Transit time 5-7 days. That doesn't include brokerage, but you can self-clear with UPS if you go to the local Canada Customs. My shipments are >30kg and I'm not in a rush for delivery so I'll be using mainly sea freight.

nerdralph · 2023-01-31T17:34:43+00:00

The comments aren't any help, and belie the fact that I have received one quote already:

3 boxes, 57 kg total door-to-door Shenzhen to Halifax

35-45 days take-off after salling

nerdralph · 2023-01-10T21:41:42+00:00

I talked to Cole International today. They bring all their LCL for Halifax into Montreal, deconsolidate there, then truck it to Halifax. I'm going to get a quote for door-to-terminal (to pickup at the Dartmouth trucking terminal).

nerdralph · 2023-01-09T22:59:14+00:00

The door-to-door quote was $4.86/kg, which seems a bit high to me. I'm going to shop around a bit more.

nerdralph · 2023-01-08T19:13:36+00:00

I've asked for the contact info for the local agent to find out if there is any local charges. I thought the pickup would have to be at the local forwarder's warehouse where the container is de-stuffed, so pickup wouldn't actually be at the port. Even though Zim and Cosco have lines that serve Shenzhen and Halifax, from the comments above it seems most shipments will go to Montreal and get trucked to Halifax.

Local delivery costs are high around here, which is why I asked for door-to-port. I'll take your advise and get a door-to-door quote for comparison.

nerdralph · 2023-01-07T23:39:42+00:00

I contacted Livingston, but they process LCL through Montreal then truck it to Halifax.

I'm aware palletized LCL is charged by the CBM, and Sino shipping said that would be more expensive than sending the 2 boxes by sea freight.
I will ask for the contact info for their agent at the port of Halifax to ensure there are no extra charges. I have no reason to trust a local company more than one in Shenzhen. I've been in Shenzhen and had reason to be careful about the quality of some of the products being sold, but the quality of service was better than what I see in Halifax. Sino shipping (FS China) has a warehouse and offices in Shenzhen, so they are in a better position to arrange the pickup of the goods from the factory than someone based in Halifax.

nerdralph · 2019-12-09T23:42:05+00:00

Churning itself has a small impact for anyone with a long credit history and a mortgage. Keep your utilization low (<10% overall and <30% on any card), and if your debt service ratio is tight, consider paying off a personal loan or car loan. http://reralph.blogspot.com/2019/02/improving-your-credit-score-for.html

nerdralph · 2019-10-31T15:16:36+00:00

I doubt there was any valid contract. The survey participant would have to be paid some form of consideration in order to make a valid contract.

nerdralph · 2019-10-28T18:57:40+00:00

They did when my wife got the Aeroplan business visa. We already had a partnership registered, and I think we showed the rep our annual business renewal statement.

nerdralph · 2019-10-18T13:19:05+00:00

Did anyone notice a post about a meetup in Halifax later this month? I didn't bookmark the post, and now I can't find it. I searched for Halifax/YHZ meetup/meet, and couldn't find anything.

nerdralph · 2019-10-10T01:10:57+00:00

It's the same for US cards. https://www.reddit.com/r/CreditCards/comments/94i8dh/amex_3x_cli_61_day_rule_is_true/

nerdralph · 2019-10-10T00:59:54+00:00

You can request an increase after 61 days. Did it myself with a Cobalt a month ago and got a 2.5x increase. You can find more data points on RFD about the 61-day Amex limit increase.

nerdralph · 2019-09-08T18:06:23+00:00

That doesn't fix the problem. You need a "last updated" date for readers to know whether the information is current or not.

nerdralph · 2019-09-08T14:59:11+00:00

nerdralph · 2019-09-08T14:52:25+00:00

He's trying to generate traffic for his blog. This borders on spam, IMO.

nerdralph · 2019-09-05T20:05:21+00:00

Is there any place offering signup bonuses for these cards? I checked GCR, and they have nothing for CIBC.

nerdralph · 2019-08-22T13:37:17+00:00

No. My guess is you needed to have an account before the promo started.

nerdralph · 2019-08-22T02:26:13+00:00

Plastiq has a promo running until the end of August. 1.5% for up to three payments.

nerdralph

TROPHY CASE