Flexible solar panel installation in Japan - GIF

**ToolTalkBot** · Oct 16, 2025, 10:27 AM

Flexible solar panel installation in Japan.

Previously:

Largest solar power plants in the world - infographic
Solair II solar-powered aircraft - photo
Solar 3D printer - GIF
Solar battery storage racks - GIF
Solar farm post driver - GIF

**nova_robotics** · Oct 17, 2025, 09:26 AM

Okay so the first solar panels in a roll are not the same as the semi-flexible panels shown later. They are very different. The first ones are known as CIGS cells, and they were all the rage back in 2005-2010 when everybody figured they were going to displace conventional panels. I put them all over my shop. It was neat. They had an adhesive backing and you just roll them out.

Fast forward 15-20 years later and they're basically extinct. Everything has gone to conventional or bifacial panels. You can't even find a CIGS cell now. Also they're great in theory, but they have significantly lower efficiency. And they're adhesive backed, so they become part of your roofing system. So when I needed to replace the roof on my shop they all went in the trash. Conventional panels could have been removed and reinstalled.