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Comment by aqme28 | Hacker News Reader

Wow, I was just talking to my dad about this. He runs a startup that builds PV-embedded vertical masonry[1], and they have been getting significantly higher-than-expected yield on their installations. Though in their case they were mostly theorizing ground reflections

[1]: (https://www.solablock.com/, looking for investors!)

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That's a cool project. One advantage solar masonry might have is the high thermal mass of masonry. The bricks average out day and night temperatures, and probably keep the panels a lot colder than they would be on their own.

And as an extra bonus they slow the heat exchange with the outside air so it works as insulation both in summer and in winter.

If anything I would think that the poor thermal conductance of the masonry would make this inferior to simply mounting panels over the exterior with an air gap.

Doesnt an air gap have an even lower thermal conductivity? Conductive heat transfer is usually much higher than convective.

Exactly. A better thermal profile, vandal/theft resistant, and lower all-in installation costs.

I have so many questions! While digging into the Applications section these look like conventionally-sized CMUs, the image on the front page looks like panels/blocks that are large enough to require a crane to lift? If that's the case, how fragile are they?

CMUs and other pre-cast concrete "lego blocks" have intrigued me for a long time. These look like they've got more robust interlocking features than conventional cinderblocks too? The idea of being able to order (even without the solar) say 8'x4' pre-cast "CMU-style" walls, have them show up on a flat deck, stuff rebar and mortar into ready-made holes, and grout between the blocks seems like it could dramatically speed up a lot of exterior construction. Being able to get them ready to wire for solar is delicious icing on the cake!

They don't need a crane. Maybe a confusing rendering for a future idea.

They make tiles and cinderblocks, and yes, they have some interlocking features. And yes, the idea is that installation will be way easier and cheaper than first building a regular wall and then attaching vertical solar to that after the fact.

Please ask your dad or whoever does the work on that website to update the home page so that the content does not do the reverse of its "intro animation" just because you scrolled back in the direction of the top of the page.

I was more distracted by that behavior and totally failed to get any value out of visiting your site.

Are the PV panels mounted directly on the masonry? ...oh wait clicks link yeah maybe the masonry is acting as a heatsink for the panels as well?

They're embedded in the masonry. When you buy a CMU, you get one unit. Yes, this has better thermal properties, and this also makes them more durable and theft/vandal resistant.

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