Tag Archive

Photovoltaic Breakthroughs Brighten Outlook for Cheap Solar Power

Enough sunlight bathes Earth’s daytime half in an hour to meet all human energy needs for a year.
Sadly, there are several problems with meeting human energy demands by tapping such abundant, free solar power—not least of which is the cost of making semiconducting material that can cheaply harvest the power [...]

Watching China Run

Image via Wikipedia

It was primarily a symbolic gesture.
Way back in 1979, in the midst of an energy crisis, Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed on the roof of the White House. They were used to heat water for some White House staffers.
“A generation from now,” said Mr. Carter, “this solar heater can [...]

Solar glazing chases sun from dawn until dusk

In the age of green energy we are seeing interesting new developments that marry building materials with the capacity to harness renewable power sources. Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) or concentrating PV technologies aren’t new, but the ability to concentrate and maximize the capture of energy by tracking sunlight from dawn [...]

Recharging Your Cellphone, Mother Nature’s Way

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A NEW solar cell that imitates Mother Nature’s way of converting sunlight to energy is making its debut in a variety of consumer products.
The technology uses a photosensitive dye to start its energy production, much the way leaves use chlorophyll to begin photosynthesis.
The dye-sensitized cells will be used [...]

Konarka’s Power Plastic Turns Buildings into Power Plants

Solar energy innovator Konarka is out to prove that you can have your sustainable cake and eat it, too.  The Massachusetts-based company has launched a pilot project that will integrate its proprietary Power Plastic solar panels into the non-loadbearing exterior wall of a building, called a curtain wall.
Solar energy innovator Konarka is out to prove [...]