Quote found in an article written by Ramez Naam, CEO of Apex Nanotechnologies, appearing in Scientific American titled “Smaller, cheaper, faster: Does Moore’s law apply to solar cells?
via horizonwatching
(via davereed)
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Quote found in an article written by Ramez Naam, CEO of Apex Nanotechnologies, appearing in Scientific American titled “Smaller, cheaper, faster: Does Moore’s law apply to solar cells?
via horizonwatching
(via davereed)
NREL just announced a huge breakthrough in making solar electricity competitive with fossil fuels as they unveiled the Amonix 7700 Concentrated Photovoltaic or CPV Generator. We cover a lot ofsolar technologies at Inhabitat, but what makes this system so special is the technology behind it – Amonix has basically taken space grade solar cells and put them under a lens here on earth. The resulting system tracks the sun and produces nearly double the power of traditional solar electric arrays at utility-scale installations. The technology has the added benefit being the least land-intensive form of solar power in the world.
“Solar company Global Solar on Tuesday introduced a line of flexible solar modules which are designed for flat commercial rooftop buildings.
Rather than install racking systems to hold heavy glass-covered solar panels, the company’s PowerFlex BIPV modules can be adhered onto a roof or built right into roofing materials. The modules are quicker to installer, lighter, and don’t require any penetrations into the roof, according to the company.”
Global Solar rolls out stick-on solar panels | Green Tech - CNET News
We cover a lot of solar panel technologies here at Inhabitat — some are pie in the sky, some are a few years down the road and some are exciting products that are actually available today. SoloPower’s new flexible rolling solar panels are in the latter group, and they stand to significantly reduce production and installation costs. With a notable 11% efficiency, the easily-installed thin-film panels may be able to give traditional silicon panels a run for the money.
Solar-Powered Plane Stays Aloft for 26 Hours - NYTimes
“As a city dweller and small eater, I’m usually smug about my low environmental impact until I remember that my flights cancel it out. Commercial flight is one of the biggest chunks of the carbon output causing climate change.
“This was a pilot-only aircraft, and the article doesn’t mention the timeline for commercial flights, but god damn this is an exciting step. Basically, they demonstrated that this plane could theoretically fly indefinitely on non-polluting solar power.”
via nickdouglas: whuffie
Three years without oil - CNN.com
“Three years ago, the self-described ‘New Age hippie’ Patrick Vanderwyden began a personal mission to cut his energy usage by switching to alternative energy. Vanderwyden uses solar power to run his water heater, hot tub, air conditioner, fans, and his refrigerator at his home of 24 years.”
h/t crazyfishor
“Ever think about how amazing it would be if tech as complex as solar cells could be simply sprayed onto a surface? A group of researchers found that a common organic semiconductor may make that situation a reality. Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently determined that poly(3-hexylthiopene), or P3HT, may be a useful material for creating spray-on transistors. Once the tech is optimized, we could see electronics like solar cells and displays that can be sprayed onto a surface just like paint.”
Organic Semiconductor May Pave the Way for Paintable Electronics | Inhabitat
This would be simply amazing. Provided that such a “paint” would maintain durability & color standards, the possibilities are incredible: your house, my car, etc.
Green Puzzle: Rooftop lawn generates green energy for your home
A combination of grass and green-colored solar panels
via urbangreens: Veg.itecture
Solar Powered EV Charging: Four Visions | treehugger
Sanyo is unveiling its HIT prototype solar charging station at CES this week and plans a more modest canopy to be unveiled in Portland within the first quarter of this year.
via makdreams: age-of-ecology
Ultra-Thin Modular Solar Panels Energize Any Building | inhabitat
Sulfurcell is the producer of a new kind of modular solar panel that add energy-generating capabilities to any building. The super-thin panels are entirely self contained, so they don’t require any substructure, and they can be applied to new buildings as well as retrofitted old buildings to provide plenty of power.
via age-of-ecology
“A Santa Monica, Calif., company called SolarReserve has taken a step toward making that a reality, filing an application with California regulators to build a 150-megawatt solar farm that will store seven hours’ worth of the sun’s energy in the form of molten salt.
Heat from the salt can be released when it’s cloudy or at night to create steam that drives an electricity-generating turbine.
The Rice Solar Energy Project, to be built in the Sonoran Desert east of Palm Springs, will “generate steady and uninterrupted power during hours of peak electricity demand,” according to SolarReserve’s license application.
So-called dispatchable solar farms would in theory allow utilities to avoid spending billions of dollars building fossil fuel power plants that are fired up only a few times a year when electricity demand spikes, like on a hot day.”
Solar Powered Monorail System For Bologna | inhabitat
Iosa Ghini Associati has designed the Energy Belt, a solar-powered monorail system for Bologna, Italy that will connect the airport to the city center.
via makdreams: age-of-ecology
“Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced today it is partnering with Houston-based Standard Renewable Energy (SRE) to install solar panels on approximately 75 Chipotle restaurants over the next year. In all, Chipotle has committed to panels that will produce 500 kilowatt hours of electricity, making Chipotle the largest direct producer of solar energy in the restaurant industry.”
via reuters.com