According to the New York Times, we may be on the brink of a new phase of solar innovation: Solar Valley. With San Jose-based Nanosolar and SunPower Corporation and Campbell-based REgrid in on the solar action, the bandwagon may spread to make Silicon Valley a solar industry capital.
Silicon Valley is poised to stand out for numerous reasons. As exemplified above, it’s where the big guns come out to play. Smaller companies, such as Ausra, soon follow suit. Originally based in Australia, Ausra offers solar thermal electric power stations for utilities. Also, financial observers see the commonality between the solar cell and the computer chip that once made Silicon Valley soar. There’s also the promise of mass adoption by companies such as SolarCity in Foster City, which looks toward future innovations that will eventually make solar power more affordable and ubiquitous.
Consumer behavior can be fickle, but concern for the environment is looking to become more a lifestyle than a trend. It’s a lifestyle that solar panels definitely fit into, especially when they’re built to last. With solar research generating new solar products and possibilities, government support in the form of incentives, and growing public interest, investors are paying attention and hoping that Solar Valley will not become another Silicon Valley bust.
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