Thursday, 24th of July 2008
Thursday, 24th of July 2008
"solar" — 12 posts
Is There Enough Polysilicon to Go Around?
by DeanD — Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
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 polysilicon supply and demand cycle evening out by 2010. Until then, much of the polysilicon we see comes from 7 major suppliers. 75% of the polysilicon available is provided provided by the following companies:
  • Hemlock Semiconductor (USA)
  • Wacker-Chemie AG (Germany)
  • Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) (Norway)
  • Tokuyama Corporation (Japan)
  • MEMC (USA)
  • Mitsubishi (Japan & USA)
  • Sumitomo-Titanium (Japan)
In the meanwhile, researchers are hard at work seeking alternatives to polysilicon, including thin film and painted solar cells.
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Power Purchase Helps Make Solar Power A Reality
by DeanD — Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
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, installing panels at minimum or no cost. Using this model, you will not own your own panels, but you'll get all the benefits of solar electricity, without worrying about maintenance or disposal. Something to consider.

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Solar Heating Up in San Diego
by DeanD — Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
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 commercial and industrial consumers will receive incentive amounts in relation to their collection areas. This is in addition to federal tax credits of up to 30 percent. With this combination, the solar water heating systems in San Diego will pay for themselves in record time.

Station 22 is taking part, the first firehouse to take part in the SWHPP. Hopefully, the rest of the state won't be too far behind. SWHPP is a predecessor to a $250 million statewide program.

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Down the Solar Road
by DeanD — Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
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 goal. Scott Brusaw of Solar Roadways is already getting started with a system consisting of durable, translucent glass road surface containing PV solar collectors designed for grid connection. Three layers collect and distribute solar power while protecting the system from traffic. Quite a concept. Brusaw believe the system could potentially meet the entire world's electricity needs.

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PV You Could Drive On
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Coating Helps Solar Cells Live Longer
by DeanD — Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

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 prolonged exposure to UV light.

A range of materials could be used in the coating, referred to as photon conversion material (PCM). These include polyflourene, liquids, solids, gels, and nanoparticles.

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New Solar-to-grid Efficiency Record
by DeanD — Thursday, February 14th, 2008
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 companies: Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric.

How did their new system become so efficient? According to Sandia engineers, it is a combination of the following factors:
  • Improved optics
  • Mirror facets consisting of highly reflective glass with a silver backing to focus a higher percentage of sunlight
  • A new, more effective radiator and generator
  • Beautiful New Mexico winter weather
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Using Mirrors to Follow the Sun
by DeanD — Thursday, February 14th, 2008
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 using any movable parts. They do this using a reflective metal tube that spreads sunlight throughout the interior of a room. Another similar product is the Solar Tracker, a moveable solar panel that rotates.

While most solar products currently on the market are static, the potential for movement seems to have its virtues, especially since the sun and earth never stay still.

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Is Rainwater the New Sunlight?
by DeanD — Thursday, February 7th, 2008
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 impacted by an outside, physical force.

Units of energy produced by rainwater is limited, but researchers believe it can be utilized for residential sensors, or detecting devices for automatic applications. Way to put a new spin on alternative energy.

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Solar Decathlon 2009 Teams Selected
by DeanD — Monday, February 4th, 2008
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 balance, and "getting around." Once they are completed, the public can take a walking tour through each of the homes.

Homes completed for past Decathlons are recognized for being innovative as well as luxurious, comfortable, and even beautiful. They have the capacity for everyday necessities, such as cooking, dishwashing, and laundry, while displaying unique architectural elements such as waterfalls and wraparound shutters. Participating students learn about building and design, and also how to raise money for their projects. The event helps to encourage support for solar power in future homes.

Teams for the 2009 Solar Decathlon have just been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and are listed on the DOE website.

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Decorative Solar Cells Sit Pretty
by DeanD — Thursday, January 31st, 2008
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 energy.

Physicists admit that dye solar cells only have 4 percent efficiency and can’t rival the conventional silicon cell in this aspect. However, their decorative potential opens up a new possibility for solar cells as functional, decorative facades. Fraunhofer Institute will present the technology at the Nanotech 2008 in Tokyo.
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Green Building for Residents at a Crossroads
by DeanD — Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
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 enthusiasm about the clean, state-of-the-art facility, dramatically different from other shelters located in dreary warehouses.

While being healthy for the environment, the new facility is also designed to be a healthy place for the homeless to heal, physically and spiritually. Wendy Jackson, the director of the project, believes the homeless deserve a shelter with dignity, and proponents believe Crossroads can be a model for other shelters across the country.

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Solar Powered Gate Openers
by gateforce — Sunday, December 30th, 2007

Gate Force supply and install solar powered gate openers Australia Wide,including sliding gate openers,from Solar to low voltage motors.

See for your self what they have to offer!

10/60 Gardens Drive Acacia Ridge.4110

Brisbane.Queensland.Australia

Visit http://www.gateforce.com.au

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