Its Andalay AC panels are modular and easy to install, Akeena Solar says. A full 3-kilowatt, 20-panel array can be installed by a two-man crew in less than a day, the company suggested to Popular Mechanics magazine. Because the panels include built-in microinverters, they can be connected easily to a home AC power system.
"Buying panels off the shelf at Lowe's offers solar options to homeowners that they didn't have," said Akeena Solar CEO Barry Cinnamon.
Lowe's stores selling the solar panels also feature an Energy Center that enables shoppers to assess their home's potential for a renewable energy installation. Lowe's reports that it is the first retailer to offer solar components in one place.
The Energy Center will debut in more U.S. and Canadian stores in 2010, Lowe's promised.
California is a likely market for DIY solar panels. The company is forecasted to be the biggest state-level market for solar energy products in the next five years, research firm BCC Research said this week. It has readily available state and federal incentives, an eco-conscious population and abundant sunshine.
