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How Much Is The Sunflower Solar System

What Do I Get From Smartflower

How This Company Is Reimagining Solar Energy

Smartflower’s solar installations are ground mounted. The panels, inverter and optional battery are part of one freestanding structure that is delivered fully assembled. Installation is about as close to plug-and-play as any major solar installation can claim.

Smartflower stands about 16 feet tall when its 12 solar petals are fully opened. The inverter is housed within the pedestal and comes from either Fronius or Sunny Boy. The inverter will have an efficiency rating of 96.5%, said Jim Gordon, Smartflower Solar’s CEO.

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The panels operate with dual axis tracking, which means they follow the sun to always face it at an ideal 90 degrees. It has a peak capacity of 2.5 kilowatts, but because they can always directly face the sun, Smartflowers produce about 40% more electricity than similarly sized rooftop solar arrays, Gordon said. Smartflower’s website says one system will produce 4,000 to 6,500 kilowatt hours per year, depending on the weather and location.

Smartflower also offers a Smartflower Plus, which includes energy storage in Simpliphi batteries. The three lithium-ion batteries hold 11.4 kilowatts of energy.

You can monitor the whole system through a smartphone app that allows you to view your energy production and open and close the system manually.

Features Of Smart Flower

1. The system is autonomous. It doesnt require any additional parts for functioning. The 5-meter long design contains every component that it needs for smooth operation.

2. Smart flower comes with a unique mechanism that replicates a sunflower. The design itself looks like a flower, with 12 petals. In the morning, after sunrise, the petals open up on their own to soak in the sunlight, and they start producing solar energy. As the sun goes down, the petals fold down on their own. The solar tracker helps the petals to locate which way they can get the maximum amount of sunlight.

3.The system tracks and monitors weather conditions to decide when to open and fold the petals. The petals fold up automatically when the wind is strong, to keep the system well-protected.

4. The panel doesnt require any external cleaning agent. The panel comes with a convenient self-cleaning system that does all the work on its own.

5. Since there are no extra parts, the entire installation takes just a few hours. Unlike traditional solar panels, the installation process is much more hassle-free. If you decide to shift the solar flower to some other location, you can do that with ease.

6. It has a smart cooling technology that prevents the system from overheating, which in turn, maximizes energy production. The rear ventilation keeps the panel 18°F cooler than its normal temperature.

Is Smartflower The Best Choice

If you’re looking for solar for your home, Smartflower will work best for people who love the unique look or want to make a visible statement about their energy use. While Smartflower is undeniably cool looking, for most homeowners, rooftop panels or a ground-mounted, fixed array is going to make more sense from a strictly financial perspective.

If you love the look and have extra money to spend though, you won’t be able to get Smartflower from any other company.

It’s worth noting that while this article is thoroughly researched, it doesn’t rely on any empirical testing I have done myself. It shouldn’t serve as a replacement for getting multiple quotes from local and national installers to find the solar solution that best fits your needs and your property.

Read Also: Does Removing Solar Panels Damage Roof

Key Features Of The Smartflower System

The systems exceptional elevated design enables the solar panels to cool naturally air passes behind each petal in order to provide natural cooling. This leads to an increase in each panel’s overall productivity by up to 10 percent.

The Smartflower automatically self-cleans each panel every time it opens or closes. Long brushes attached to the underside of each petal’s outer edge sweep the panel beneath it when in movement. This smart feature can also improve production by up to 2 percent.

What Is The Smartflower

New Product Smart Sunflower Solar Power System Home Solar ...

The Smartflower actually looks like a flower, with the solar panels as the petals. These petals are moveable and retract at night when the sun has set and then open up again when the sun rises. During high winds, the petals will retract to protect itself and theyre angled to self-clean as well.

There are currently three models available: the basic Smartflower Pop, the Smartflower Pop+ which includes batteries, and the Smartflower Pop-e which includes an electric vehicle charge port.

The actual solar installation is quite small, just 2.51 kilowatts. Compare this to the average US residential solar installations 5.6 kW and you can see what we mean its less than half the size! However, the Smartflower has an ingenious trick up its sleeve that boosts electricity production way higher than an ordinary solar installation.

Also Check: How To Connect Solar Panels To The Grid

How Much Does The Smartflower Cost

Before applying for all incentives and tax credits, the SmartFlower solar panel system ranges in price from $25,000 to $30,000 with the average cost to install at $27,000. There are two models that you can choose from, and this is why the price can vary.

The upgraded SmartFlower +Plus is exactly the same as the base version but includes a battery to store your solar energy.

After taking into account the 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit and other incentives, the cost comes closer to the $17,000 to $20,000 range. Now, lets look at the specifications so we can see how it compares with a traditional rooftop solar panel system.

Final Thoughts On The Smartflower System

Aesthetically, the Smartflower is a stunning, portable, and innovative technology. The system is available in eight different colors and can be installed in under an hour. If homeowners eventually move, they can simply take the system with them.

The Smartflower can also be a great option if you arent concerned with meeting 100% of your home’s electrical needs.

Like all large purchases, compare multiple quotes from solar installers before making any decision. With its extraordinary construction and flawlessly synchronized components, Smartflower just might be fueling the winds of change for the solar industry.

Find out how much a solar system will cost for your specific home

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How Is Smartflower Different Than Rooftop Solar

The biggest difference between a rooftop solar system and the SmartFlower system is that the SmartFlower is ground-mounted. Ground-mounted systems are a great alternative to rooftop solar because you can avoid all of the potential limitations that come when installing a rooftop system.

Rooftop solar panel systems may need to be customized to account for several variables like roof type and space availability, but with the ground-mounted SmartFlower module, you have the freedom to install the system wherever there is sufficient exposure to sunlight. The unit itself is 194 square feet.

The next big difference between the SmartFlower system and a traditional solar panel system is that it includes a dual axis tracker so that it can follow the sun throughout the day and maximize its solar energy production. According to Smartflowers website, this translates into a 40% increase in production over a similar sized rooftop solar panel system.

These features put the Smartflower solar panel system in the same category as many other non-roof based systems. So then, what makes the Smartflower better than any of the other ground-mounted, sun-tracking solar panel systems?

Smartflower The Smartest Sunflower Solar Panel That Collects Energy From The Sun

Tech Insider – Flower solar panel produces a lot of energy

Posted

Solar energy-gathering technology is on the rise which absolutely means good news for our environment! More and more people are embracing this earth-friendly source of energy and innovators are working on creating some of the most efficient means of gathering energy from the sun.

Now let us introduce the Smartflower, which is a smart solar panel that follows the sun throughout the day. As opposed to the static solar panels you may be used to seeing on rooftops or lawns, the Smartflower, much like a sunflower, follows the direction of the sun to ensure that it gathers as much sunlight as it can throughout the day. This means it is capable of producing 40% more energy than regular solar panels.

The Smartflower adjusts to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

The Smartflower is capable of generating up to 4,000 kWh a year. Thats the equivalent of an average households daily use of electricity. And its not even an eyesore, as the Smartflower looks like a whimsical ornament that stands at 16 feet tall.

While it may look huge at 16 feet, it automatically folds up at night.

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How Is Smart Flower Different From Regular Solar Panels

You cannot install a solar panel just anywhere. In most cases, they are roof-mounted and require a large amount of space for installation. They are also limited by weather conditions. This is where Smartflower comes into the picture. The idea behind this revolutionary sunflower solar panel is to address the shortcomings of a regular solar panel.

You can install Smartflower wherever you please. This is a ground-mounted system that can be useful for both residential and commercial purposes. All it needs is a space that has adequate exposure to sunlight.

The Smartflower is equipped with a dual-axis solar tracker so that it can follow the sun. This tracker makes sure that the system can produce ample amounts of solar energy throughout the day. This is a feature that conventional solar panels dont have.

Other than these, the Smartflower has a long list of features that sets it apart from any other type of solar panels.

Smartflower Cost And Efficiency

If you wish to acquire the system, you should budget about $25,000$30,000. No doubt, that is a lot of money. But then, you should consider the value you get from it. The cost per watt is about $6.25$7.50, with an average price of $6.75. Depending on the part of the world you live in, the system can produce about 3,4006,200 kWh every year. According to studies, an average European home consumes about 3,500 kilowatt-hours . In the United States, an average home consumes 10,600 kWh each year.

Here is the catch this technology can meet the energy demands of an average EU home while it allows US homes to significantly reduce power bills by 4060%. It is impressive that the company provides a 25-year warranty for solar cells and a 10-year warranty for its inverter. With a dual-axis sun-tracking feature, it is capable of trapping 40% more sunlight than the traditional solar panels. This is a mark of efficiency. You should consider all these factors before taking the plunge.

Read Also: Is Solar Panel Roof Worth It

How Does The Smartflower Compare To Traditional Solar

The solar flower and a traditional solar system both have the same ultimate goal, to reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels by replacing it with clean renewable energy from the Sun. However, the price and convenience are different and are worth comparing so you know how they stack up.

A solar flower is equal to 2.5 kWs of photovoltaic solar cells. According to Smartflower, since the panels are always facing directly at the Sun the solar flower is as productive as 4 kWs of a normal rooftop solar system.

Solar is typically priced out as cost per watt. The solar flower is comprised of 2.5 kW or 2500 watts. The average solar flower costs $27,000 which prices the solar flower at $10.80 per watt. Since the system performs like a 4 KW rooftop solar system then you could say that the price drops to $6.75 per watt.

A traditional solar system costs can vary between $3.00-$3.50 per watt depending on who, when, and where you ask. That price encompasses all the expenses that go into the installation. To stay conservative if we use $3.50 then a 4KW system would cost $14,000, about half the price of a solar flower.

However, the solar flower does have some perks that rooftop solar does not.

A traditional solar system has to stay put, it takes about 1-2 days to install with people walking all over your roof and adds a look to your home that you probably did not think about when you bought the home.

What Is Solar Smartflower

SunFlower Solar PV â 2GreenEnergy.com

Invented by SmartFlowerTM Energy Technology GmbH in 2010, a solar SmartFlower or smart flower is sunflower-shaped photovoltaic equipment capable of generating power. It absorbs the sunlight and converts it into energy for domestic and commercial purposes. Just as the name suggests, its solar panels are shaped like petals as seen in flowers in nature. It continuously turns in the direction of the sun, where there is intense sunlight, and captures the rays to convert them into energy.

It goes without saying that this energy converter has a self-cleaning mechanism, meaning that you do not have to keep cleaning it. The innovation is easy to assemble, so you do not have to hire a professional to help you assemble or set up the components. Once set up, this system improves the aesthetic appearance of the surrounding area.

Some of its key components include solar panels, wiring, batteries, and other components that enable the freestanding system to generate and store electricity. The entire structure measures about 194 square feet with a diameter of 15.5 feet . Obviously, it has numerous benefits. However, it will only provide supplementary power to some very large homes as you will learn later.

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Does It Come With A Warranty

Smartflower offers a system warranty of 5 years and a 25-year performance warranty. As compared to regular solar panels that offer 25 years of warranty on both performance and the structure, Smartflower is lagging behind in this aspect. Considering the huge cost that you have to bear, the warranty period doesnt seem to be sufficient.

The Sunflower Has A Massive Total Efficiency Of Around 80% Thanks To Very Clever Tech

by Sebastian Anthony – Aug 30, 2015 12:10 pm UTC

Sebastian Anthony

Behold, the Solar Sunflower! Here they are trying a bunch of different reflector materials, which is why the segments all look slightly different. Some of the reflectors are covered up to protect them from the elements, or to stop them from frying a nearby engineer.

  • Sebastian Anthony

    Behold, the Solar Sunflower! Here they are trying a bunch of different reflector materials, which is why the segments all look slightly different. Some of the reflectors are covered up to protect them from the elements, or to stop them from frying a nearby engineer.

  • Sebastian Anthony

  • Sebastian Anthony

    If you squint, you can see the “bright spot” on the collector in the middle of the Sunflower that’s somewhere between the power of 1,500 and 5,000 suns.

  • Sebastian Anthony

  • The Solar Sunflower control room.

  • Sebastian Anthony

    The Sunflower is controlled through this tablet. The Sunflower can be set to track the sun, or you can manually move it around

  • Sebastian Anthony

  • Gianluca Ambrosetti, in the Airlight Energy control room.

  • Sebastian Anthony

  • Airlight Energy, in Biasca, Switzerland

  • Sebastian Anthony

    The various lightweight concrete pieces that make up a Solar Sunflower. They are preparing to build another Sunflower.

  • Sebastian Anthony

  • This giant machine is for covering the reflector segments in a protective plastic coating.

  • Sebastian Anthony

    Various bits and pieces from Airlight projects.

  • Sebastian Anthony

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    What Is The Right Price For A Solar Panel Installation

    The SolarReviews Editorial team believes a fair price for a professionally-installed solar system in 2021 is between $2.60 per watt and $3.20 per watt.

    If you are being charged more than that, there are probably better offers available. However, if you are paying less than $2.60 per watt, you may run the risk of getting a low-quality installation or sub-par customer service. Not only that, solar companies that charge such low prices probably wont be able to earn enough money off of their sales to offer you the customer support you need for the 25-year lifespan of your solar panels.

    Above all, you want to go with a solar company that has a good reputation and will be around for the long haul.

    Smart Flower: Cost Of Installation

    SMART SUNFLOWER Solar Energy System With LiFePO4 Battery.

    The cost of the Smartflower solar panel is about $25000 to $30000, depending on which model you choose. If you opt for the Smartflower+ Plus, then you would have to pay an extra amount for batteries that are used for storing solar energy. But after considering the 30% tax credit for solar power installation, the cost goes down to approximately $20000.

    Smartflower

    • Offers limited warranty

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    Is Smartflower Solar A Good Deal

    Purchasing a Smartflower is bound to be more expensive than roof or ground mounted panels. According to Gordon, most of Smartflower’s clients are commercial customers. In those cases, a large, striking solar sculpture makes a statement about a company’s commitment to sustainability. Companies have been willing to pay a premium for the messaging.

    Gordon didn’t share the price of a Smartflower, saying they vary from installation to installation, but mentioned the cost was around $30,000 in a 2019 segment on the show This Old House. While Smartflower doesn’t easily compare to a rooftop solar installation, if your motivation is to get solar power for the cheapest possible price, Smartflower isn’t your best bet. With a price of $30,000 and production near that of 4.5 kilowatts, Smartflower costs over $6.50 per watt. This is well over the national average for rooftop solar, which the National Renewable Energy Laboratory reported $3.80 per watt in 2020. Other sources report significantly lower numbers. EnergySage reported average installation costs by state ranged from $2.33 per watt in Arizona to $3.43 in Washington, DC. When you purchase a Smartflower, like other solar installations, you’ll be eligible to receive the federal solar tax credit, which currently refunds you 26% of the cost of solar and battery.

    Smartflower closes when the sun goes down.

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