You'd think two cleantech advocates--Bob Epstein, co-founder of Environmental Entrepreneurs (also known as E
2), and William Reilly, senior advisor for the Texas Pacific Group and founding partner of Aqua International Partners--would be among the last to complain about solar power. It's not the cost, the appearance, or the "hippie factor" that bothers them. It's the sheer hassle.
At the Cleantech Venture Forum last week, Mr. Epstein said the length of time it takes to get solar installed is a big problem. Mr. Reilly, who said he's been working since October to get solar installed and isn't done yet, agreed. "Having installed solar, and I'm installing more, I risk getting overexcited by what you're saying," he said. "It is a hassle. This strikes me as a technology that's in its first generation."
They aren't the first to acknowledge the bumpy solar experience. One reader, Joseph Holmes, detailed the headaches in his quest for more energy independence, and a Topline Strategies and Sunlight Electric released a study about it last year (see Wanted: Solar Salesforce.com).
Of course, solar startups are quick to put forth a positive spin. Jon Hindar, CEO of NorSun, says solar is the most interesting business he's looked at exactly because it's still in its infancy and has a long way to grow. Others say they have just the business model to fix these problems (see Wells Fargo Finances Solar For Verde Energy, Three Huge Solar Trends, Solar Gets Simpler).
And solar certainly is growing. According to Michael Rogol, manager of Photon Consulting, total sales (including components) grew from $8.3 billion in 2004 to an estimated $19 billion in 2006 (see Solar's Silicon Shakeup).
But while Mr. Reilly said he still thinks the industry will do well, he added, "having personally experienced the travails, I'm less sanguine about that."