Jake Explains How to Build a Super-Cheap Solar Water Heater
Solar water heaters are not a new idea, but people who often complain about rising energy prices should be reminded to use such devices to help heat their homes and take a shower, too.
Morocco's 140MW Wind Farm to be the Biggest in Africa
Morocco's King Mohammed VI inaugurated this Monday a $300 million wind farm near Tangiers, 34 kilometres (21 miles) from Melloussa, and according to the officials it could be the biggest in Africa. This new wind farm will be capable to generate 140MW of clean electricity due to its 165 wind turbines.
Amazing 35% Efficiency of Multi-Band Thin Film Solar Cells Demonstrated
Yet another solar cell breakthrough comes from RoseStreet Labs Energy, Inc (RSLE), who announces a new kind of multiband photovoltaic cell with three distinct light absorption regions, all integrated onto a single-layered thin film. The discovery is based on IBand, a technology proprietary to RSLE and is the first intermediate band solar cell prototyped in a laboratory.
Global Geothermal Power Capacity Increased by 20% During Last Five Years
According to a new report made by Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), the geothermal energy is growing rapidly worldwide. Between 2005 and 2010, the U.S. maintained its leading position in production, with the most MW installed, while Germany had the fastest growth.
Honda Planning to Market Solar Powered Home-Based Hydrogen Refueler Starting 2015
Having your hydrogen fuel cell car powered by some solar panels in your own backyard looks like a dream not able to come true in a lifetime for some. For others, this is already a reality and a long-term plan. Honda, GM, Toyota, Mercedes and several other car manufacturers, joined by fuel providers including Shell, look at home-based refueling stations quite seriously and plan to have the first ones implemented in as little as five years.
MIT Researchers Discover Perovskite Sheets Can Improve Solid Oxide Fuel Cells' Efficiency
Sometimes, materials in bulk sizes exhibit properties totally different than when they are sliced in pieces only a few molecules wide. A news report from the MIT says that prof. Yang Shao-Horn and a team of researchers have discovered how a very thin sheet of a material called "strontium-substituted lanthanum cobalt perovskite," aka LSC, can help solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) produce a lot more electricity from the same amount of fuel.
Michigan Researchers Develop Technology to Make Plastic Solar Cells Cheaper Than Ever
Jay Guo, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Michigan as developed a method to improve the fabrication technology of polymer solar cells. He used a simplified process for printing them, and demonstrated it on a large-area, roll-to-roll printing system. By eliminating steps in the old fabrication technology, plastic solar cells could be manufactured easier and faster.
EU Plans to Import Solar and Wind Generated Electricity from North Africa
In order to reach the 2020 target of having at least 20% of energy produced from renewable sources, The European Union will invest in solar and wind energy in North Africa. The resulted clean power will be imported in the EU via a new electricity interconnector design. Electricity will be carried via these cables running under the Mediterranean Sea directly to Europe.
Huge Offshore Wind Turbines to Power British Homes
The 500ft-tall turbine has a diameter of 475ft and, according to the company, it is prepared to be launched within the next two years. The giant blades of this turbine are expected to produce enough electricity to power 10,000 homes.
New Polymer Coating for Plastic Solar Cells Boosting Their Lifetime
Researchers from the University of Alberta and the National Institute for Nanotechnology have just published a study and showed a prototype of a very cheap plastic solar cell that lasts for eight months at full operating capacity. The same plastic solar cell had lasted for only ten hours until now.
