Fraunhofer Develops New, Easy to Make High Efficiency Solar Cells
Yet another efficiency record has been established for mass-producible solar cells: 23.4%. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) from Germany succeeded to manufacture a single-crystal silicon solar cell of a thin p-type semiconductor layer residing on an n-type semiconductor substrate. The solar cell's area is 2x2cm.
Hydrogenius Electric Airplane Competing for $1.65m NASA Prize
Researchers and designers at the University of Stuttgart's Institute of Aircraft Design (IFB) have announced that they'll begin the construction of a zero-emission electric aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The aircraft, called Hydrogenius will compete in NASA's Green Flight Challenge competition.
Solar-Powered System Refines Magnesium and Uses It as Green Fuel
Researcher Takashi Yabe at the Tokyo Institute of Technology claims that he developed a system that can run on solar energy, to refine magnesium and use it as a source of fuel.
Helioculture: Making Biofuel from CO2 by Using Solar Power
California-based startup, Joule Biotechnologies is developing a unique process using solar energy that converts carbon dioxide into liquid biofuel. This new process could yield up to 20,000 gallons of usable fuel per year per acre of land for approximately the same cost as fossil fuels.
New Discovery Could Make Platinum Fuel Cells Much More Durable
Engineering assistant prof. Dane Morgan and Ph.D. student Edward (Ted) Holby, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered that making the fuel cells from very small platinum nanoparticles decreases their lifetime. Making them bigger is, though, better.
Battery Wizard Can Recharge Your Non-Rechargeable Batteries
The Battery Wizard is a new gadget that tries to re-enable batteries otherwise good to be thrown away. Of course, rechargeable batteries are always handy and ready to be charged, but for ages I've known that trying to charge a normal, single use battery ended up in an explosion.
Google Planning to Improve Solar Thermal Plants for Cheap Electricity
Google Inc is planning to develop its own mirror technology for solar energy that could be more cheaper and accessible to the masses, reducing the cost of building solar thermal plants by a quarter or more.
Swiss Joint Venture Secretly Developing 1MW Battery
Since their invention in 1800 by Alessandro Volta, batteries have become a common power source for houses and industrial applications and hystory has proven that modern society cannot live without them.
Researchers to Develop Batteries Made from Paper and Salt
Researchers at the Uppsala University in Sweden, have developed a new thin-film battery made from salt and cellulose. This salt and paper battery uses a thin-film which makes it an attractive feature for many portable devices that draws a low current.
Mitsubishi Electric to Develop High-Output Solar Cells
The company Mitsubishi Electric has developed ten new models of high-output solar cells: five for the European market and the rest for North America and Asia. The new solar panels have the outputs ranging of 210W, 220W, 225W, 230W and 235W.
