Posts Tagged solar energy

Novel Crystalline Silicon Process May Lead to Cheaper Solar Energy

Posted by Leigh Kim in Solar Power on January 30, 2013

A recent study published in the Journal of American Chemical Society entitled “Direct Electrodeposition of Crystalline Silicon at Low Temperatures” details how researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a new method for producing crystalline silicon. Crystalline silicon is used widely in the solar and tech industries and is often priced exorbitantly. While silicon [...]

Is Quantum Engineering the Key for Taking Solar Energy to the Next Level?

Posted by Leigh Kim in Solar Power on January 8, 2013

It is quite possible that understanding biological systems that have evolved from quantum scale photosynthesis may lead to better designs for solar energy and nanoscale devices. Scientists have determined that biological systems that live in low light conditions develop unique protein structures for photosynthesis that use quantum dynamics to convert 100% of absorbed light into [...]

China Ups its Solar Target From 5 to 40 GW by 2015

Posted by Mike Sandru in Solar Power on December 14, 2012

It’s been quite a bit of a surprise watching China practically double its solar target for 2015 at least three times in the past eighteen months. The obvious trend, in that time, is the realization that solar power is becoming more and more affordable at an alarming rate! The last 2015 solar target increase for [...]

Alternative Energy Sources May Reduce the Gulf States’ Reliability on Fossil Fuels

Posted by Leigh Kim in Energy news on November 27, 2012

The Gulf desert states are some of the largest greenhouse gas polluters in the world. Fossil fuels are consumed at record speed thanks to desalination, large-scale construction projects, and widespread air conditioner use. Projects fueled by the gas and oil industry also contribute to large scale fossil fuel consumption. To add insult to injury, Saudi [...]

Is the Downfall of SolFocus a Harbinger of Doom for CPV Modules?

Posted by Leigh Kim in Solar Power on November 22, 2012

San Jose-based SolFocus may serve as a harbinger of things to come for the solar panel industry. Admitting financial difficulty, SolFocus has announced that the latest rounds of venture capital investment have fallen through, and in order to survive, the company needs a buyout. SolFocus manufactures concentrating photovoltaic modules (CPV) which uses lenses or mirrors [...]

Loss of Backing Threatens Future of Africa-to-Europe Solar Supergrid

Posted by Leigh Kim in Solar Power on November 21, 2012

Proponents of solar energy have long dreamed of an intercontinental supergrid that would transport solar power from sun-drenched North Africa to Europe. The Desertec Foundation has been working diligently to foster support for the supergrid, but the ambitious organization may have run into serious obstacles. Estimated costs for this project top out at 400 billion [...]

Amorphous Silicon Integrated PVT: The More Efficient Solar Energy Solution

Posted by Maria Reyes in Solar Power on July 4, 2012

Dealing with the dilemma of wanting to install power-generating solar panels, but these are too bulky and will leave no space for your solar heating system? Worry no more. Researchers have developed an integrated PVT using amorphous silicon that optimizes the efficiency of both solar electricity generation and solar heat generation in one convenient package. [...]

47% Efficiency for Solar Cells With Microscopic Folds and Wrinkles

Posted by Mike Sandru in Solar Power on April 30, 2012

Researchers have so far bent over backwards to find the best way to make solar cells as efficient as possible and just when you thought this is it – this one’s the best, here comes another one, claiming the exact same thing. So let’s hear the “microscopic folds” formula out, which reclaims an efficiency of [...]

German Institute Integrates Highly-Efficient Solar Cells on Ski Helmets

Posted by Mike Sandru in Green Electronics, Solar Power on March 7, 2012

Look at the picture. What do you see? A helmet, you’ll say. However, for the more experienced, this is not just any kind of helmet, but one that integrates solar cells as well. This application is one of the many solar cells are expected to endorse by the end of this year. The progress has [...]

Bankrupt Kodak to Produce Thin-Film Solar Cells In Near Future

Posted by Mike Sandru in Solar Power on January 23, 2012

Every end is a beginning. We all heard that before. I guess it’s not Kodak’s turn to test it for itself, as the company filed for bankruptcy just at the end of last week. The announcement is still fresh, but Kodak already has a back-up plan: going into the solar business by manufacturing flexible solar [...]

13 Year-Old Aidan Dwyer Uses Fibonacci Sequence to Improve Solar Power Collection

Posted by Mike Sandru in New Inventions, Solar Power on January 19, 2012

Inspiration comes in a many forms, or rather at many ages – you just have to recognize it. For example, you can feel inspired by 13-year-old Aidan Dwyer, who applied a very frequent mathematical principle found in nature to boost the solar panels’ performance. And quite successfully, we might add: by using the Fibonacci sequence [...]

Spanish Consortium Equips Greenhouses With Photovoltaic Panels

Posted by Mike Sandru in Solar Power on January 17, 2012

When we hear about solar panels, most of us think about them being perched up high on a roof to generate electricity for people. This time, Spain’s ULMA Agrícola consortium and Tecnalia research center attached the photovoltaic solar panels to greenhouses to grow perfectly healthy tomatoes and peppers. According to Basque Research, the worry was [...]

Wagan Tech Launches Two Affordable Portable Solar Generators

Posted by Mike Sandru in Solar Power on January 9, 2012

The Solar e Power Series includes 2 generators, which have been designed to help isolated communities. The best part about them is that they produce energy without the fumes and noises that traditionally accompany the process. The “bigger brother” of the two – the Solar e Power (TM) Cube 1500 – can be wheeled in [...]

Sun-Believable: Solar Cell Paint Developed by University of Notre Dame Researchers

Posted by Mike Sandru in Solar Power on December 28, 2011

You think you’ve seen it all, but you haven’t – at least regarding solar energy production! Nowadays, you can produce your own heat by just painting your house with the right kind of paint! An innovative paint of this kind would do a lot more than just free up space on your roof by displacing [...]

Record-Breaking Voltage for Organic Solar Cells Obtained by Molecular Solar Ltd

Posted by Mike Sandru in Solar Power on October 21, 2011

Molecular Solar Ltd, a spinoff from the University of Warwick has made great progress in the solar energy field by managing to achieve the record-breaking 4 volts per cell in organic solar cells. That means that these photovoltaic cells now have the possibility of being produced for commercial uses in a wide range of consumer [...]