Dean from Oakland, California
Member since January 24, 2008
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If you can't make thin cells efficient fast enough, why not make efficient silicon solar cells thinner? Using the latest advances in silicon slicing and wafer coating, Kyocera plans to do just that. The company will manufacture solar cells that are 180 micrometers thick, down from the industry's standard 200 to 260 micrometers.
However, don't expect solar cell efficiency to go down, as the company intends to improve in this area as well. In October of 2006, the company's 18.5
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del.icio.usResearchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology say clothing can provide a flexible, foldable, and wearable source of electricity. Such "power shirts" would be ideal for hikers, soldiers, or others who depend on portable electronic devices.
The technology works through electricity-generating fibers that are woven into clothing. The fibers are coated with zinc oxide nanowires that generate a current through movement. This current is not to be mistaken with static electricity, as
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The technology works through electricity-generating fibers that are woven into clothing. The fibers are coated with zinc oxide nanowires that generate a current through movement. This current is not to be mistaken with static electricity, as
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The demand for this material, also used to make the likes of telephones, wristwatches, and stereos, is clearly rising. About a third of the polysilicon currently produced goes to the solar industry. With the demand for solar higher than ever, it's no surprise that manufacturing companies are on the up and up, often selling out of their product before production is complete.
To keep up with the public's needs, there's an influx in the manufacturing sector, and experts foresee the
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To keep up with the public's needs, there's an influx in the manufacturing sector, and experts foresee the
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What's one of the biggest obstacles to going solar? High upfront costs. However, power purchase agreements are rising in popularity, and they help put an end to that initial sticker shock. They work when a company such as Sun Run in Silicon Valley supplies, owns, and maintains your solar panels. In exchange, you will pay for the electricity the panels generate, usually at a lower cost than what the utilities charge. Utilities, though, are getting in on power purchase agreements, too,
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As part of the Solar Water Heating Pilot Program (SWHPP), San Diegans have until the end of the year to receive city incentives for installing qualified solar water heating systems. Solar water heating drops the average water heating bill by 50 to 80 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. It also protects consumers from potential gas and electricity shortages and price hikes. For giving themselves these benefits, residential consumers of SDG&E can receive up to $1500 while
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What does it take to effectively invest in clean energy? Investment analyst Richard Asplund attempts an answer in his report, "Profiting from Clean Energy: A Complete Guide to Trading Green in Solar, Wind, Ethanol, Fuel Cell, Carbon Credit Industries, and More." The report identifies more than 150 clean energy stocks, with guidance on where to invest and when, as well as which stocks to avoid altogether. A portfolio of investment techniques are also discussed, from stocks, ETFs, and
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If you've ever gone on a road trip you know: highways line the country like a network of veins. Moreover, it can get hot on the road, hot enough to give you sunburn, even when you're sheltered in the safe interior of your car. Well, solar geeks are utilizing this information for the good of the world. By replacing tarmac with durable PV solar collectors, we could potentially transform our freeway system into the lifeblood of our country's electrical power. At least, that's the
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Amid all the attention on increasing solar cell diversity, there's now focus on increasing solar cell durability. One method is through a special coating, one that turns UV photons into visible light with longer wavelengths. This coating has two-fold benefits, increasing both efficiency and longevity. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles say the coating could add years to cells' lifespans. This boost is important to solar cells, which decrease in efficiency with
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According to the New York Times, we may be on the brink of a new phase of solar innovation: Solar Valley. With San Jose-based Nanosolar and SunPower Corporation and Campbell-based REgrid in on the solar action, the bandwagon may spread to make Silicon Valley a solar industry capital.
Silicon Valley is poised to stand out for numerous reasons. As exemplified above, it’s where the big guns come out to play. Smaller companies, such as Ausra, soon follow suit. Originally based in Australia,
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Silicon Valley is poised to stand out for numerous reasons. As exemplified above, it’s where the big guns come out to play. Smaller companies, such as Ausra, soon follow suit. Originally based in Australia,
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Science Daily reported a new solar record today. It was set by Sandia National Laboratories and Stirling Energy Systems (SES), whose solar dish achieved 31.25 percent efficiency for solar-to-grid conversion. This is just short of 2 percent higher than the 1984 record of 29.4 percent, but according to SES President, 2 percent higher is potentially enough to affordably commercialize this type of system.
In fact, SES has already signed two power purchase agreements with two major utility
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In fact, SES has already signed two power purchase agreements with two major utility
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Skylights are evolving, in ways intended to bring heat and light from the sun as far indoors as possible. One of the newest methods uses highly reflective mirrors that never stop moving in pursuit of the sun. This solar tracking skylight requires no external power. The mirrors hang from a shielded control box powered by a photocell. They are able to generate 4 times the indoor light levels and in the summer, reduce heat gain by 20 percent.
Solar tubular skylights function the same way, without
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Solar tubular skylights function the same way, without
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According to representatives at the Grenoble, France atomic energy commission, each drop of rain poses an opportunity to capture energy. Just as energy from tides, sunlight, and wind is collected, the Grenoble team will also attempt to harvest the energy generated by the weather. They will do this using a device that can potentially produce one microwatt of power from a light drizzle. The device will be made from piezoelectric material, which has the potential for electrical generation when
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The Solar Decathlon, which takes place in Washington, D.C., is a competition between 20 teams of college students majoring in architecture and engineering. The Decathlon showcases high-tech solar homes built by the teams, who stem from universities across the United States and Europe. The solar homes must operate completely off grid. They can garner points in 10 categories: architecture, engineering, market viability, communications, comfort zone, appliances, hot water, lighting, energy
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A new solar cell, the screen-printed dye solar cell, is currently in development by the Fraunhofer Institute. It is made when a thin, electricity-generating film is applied between two glass panels using screen printing techniques. With this method, manufacturers will have the capacity to generate an infinite array of colors and images onto a solar module. Solar modules with a decorative twist can then be mounted over windows, providing a protective shade while generating clean
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The New York Times just released an article about Crossroads, a homeless shelter located in Oakland, California. Unlike other shelters, Crossroads is a green building, reportedly the first of its kind in the country.
Built from the ground up, the new facility will enable 125 homeless residents to seek shelter beneath a solar-paneled roof, within cozy walls colored with non-toxic paint, cooled by ceiling fans, and bedecked with natural furniture. Prospective residents are already showing a lot
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Built from the ground up, the new facility will enable 125 homeless residents to seek shelter beneath a solar-paneled roof, within cozy walls colored with non-toxic paint, cooled by ceiling fans, and bedecked with natural furniture. Prospective residents are already showing a lot
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