Developers of Unique Solar PV Products Should Use Market Research to Validate Market Demand
Last week, I advised two would-be solar entrepreneurs with a novel idea to validate its market appeal before spending money building a prototype or taking any other steps forward. As I suggested here and here, using the kindest and gentlest language I could muster, I urged them to use a small but definitive market research effort to corroborate their belief that an appreciable level of consumer demand exists for the concept.
They were having none of it. This morning they wrote to me: Here, take a look (see below). These guys use our wording word by word and design vision. They ARE NOT present in the US. This only means that our product must be built without any further hesitation. If Europeans got it, means it’s coming.
This, of course, is not true. People all over the world have ludicrous ideas; they are not the exclusive province of Americans (though sometimes, I admit, it may seem that way). We need to ask ourselves: how many people with houses like the one depicted here believe that this device would make an aesthetic enhancement to their poolside setting? Jiminy crickets.
I would certainly put this near my pool before that flower looking thing.
http://www.lumossolar.com/
Brian
I agree with you. I’ll be flabbergasted if even a tiny fraction of 1% think this is a good idea.
That “Lumos” concept is pretty cool, btw.
I told the guy I work with that showed it to me that he should put it up as a shady area by the pool. Being a redhead I am always looking for the shade. I also told him if he were to pump pool water to the top and let it flow down the panels it would cool the panels and heat the pool water at the same time and likely have little effect on the panel efficiency. If it wasn’t directed correctly to run back into the pool he could put a gutter across the bottom and run it into the pool that way.