One of America’s original solar companies is now no more. RGS Energy, which started as Real Goods Solar in 1978, has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The veteran solar installer had in the last year shifted its focus to solar shingle installation after acquiring the license to Dow’s Powerhouse shingles in 2017. Dow’s product used thin-film solar cells, while RGS Energy’s 3.0 version used monocrystalline solar cells. The company hoped to take advantage of California’s mandate that all new homes built beginning this year include a solar aspect. Unfortunately the product did not take off.
On January 31, 2020, the board of directors terminated the employment of all employees.
Point of clarification, Solarman — The Powerhouse 3.0 required only array level shutdown:
690.12 (B)(2)(3) PV arrays with no exposed wiring methods, no exposed conductive parts, and installed more than 2.5 m (8 ft) from exposed grounded conductive parts or ground shall not be required to comply with 690.12(B)(2).
“One of America’s original solar companies is now no more. RGS Energy, which started as Real Goods Solar in 1978, has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy.”
The taking over of the DOW technology and supposedly creating RGS 3.0 roofing tile solar PV was not any better than the old DOW product. With the “push” of new rapid shutdown of solar PV inserted by the NFPA into the new NEC code, will create a problem for “solar tiles on roofs”. TESLA has announced 1,000 roofs per week. IF TESLA were to become rapid shutdown compliant, a new type of module would have to be designed and applied to the solar roof tiles, making standard roof racked panels with a rapid shutdown device attached to each panel common place, easier to install, troubleshoot and monitor.